The Vatican has moved two bishops to head two important dioceses in the country. Erstwhile Kidapawan Bishop Romulo Valles is the new archbishop of the Diocese of Zamboanga, replacing Archbishop Carmelo Morelos who reached the canonical retirement age of 75 in December last year.
Following Canon Law, the resignation
became effective only after it was accepted by Pope Benedict XVI. The Pontiff
can extend a retiring bishop’s term until a replacement has been appointed.
Bishop Sergio Utleg, 63, was transferred
from the Diocese of Ilagan in Isabela to the Diocese of Laoag in Ilocos Norte.
Archbishop Fernando Filoni, Apostolic
Nuncio in the Philippines,
announced the new appointments through Fr. James Reuter SJ, head of the
Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines’ National Office of
Mass Media.
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