Butuan bishop Juan de Dios Pueblos dies

Villegas, however, said that while the death brings sadness, people should also look at it with hope and faith in God. (Photo: Long Thiên, Flickr/Public domain)

MANILA— Another Catholic prelate passed away. Butuan Bishop Juan de Dios Pueblos died Saturday. He was 74.

Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) president and Lingayen-Dagupan Archbishop Socrates Villegas expressed grief over Pueblos’ demise.

Villegas, however, said that while the death brings sadness, people should also look at it with hope and faith in God.

“Every death diminishes us. Something in us dies when a loved one dies. In the death of Bishop Juan de Dios Pueblos a part of us dies too but we look at death with hope and faith in the Risen Lord,” he said in a statement.

The Catholic prelate added, “He is a priest forever. The battle is over! The victory is won. Well done, good and faithful priest of God! Pray for us Bishop Didi.”

The cause of death of the Butuan bishop is yet to be identified.

Pueblos served the Diocese for 22 years. He was born in Moto Sur in Loon town, Bohol in 1943 and was ordained as a priest in 1968.

In 1985, Pueblos was named auxiliary bishop of Davao and later ordained titular bishop of Zaba’s diocese.

He served as bishop in Kidapawan for eight years before coming to Butuan.