45 of 86 active PH bishops appointed by Pope Francis

By Ferdinand Patinio, Philippine News Agency

FILE: IN MEMORIAM. Manila Archbishop Jose Cardinal Advincula leads the Requiem Mass for the death of #PopeFrancis at the Manila Cathedral on Tuesday (April 22, 2025). Joining the Mass is Papal Nuncio, Archbishop Charles John Brown. (PNA photo by Avito Dalan)

MANILA – Pope Francis had appointed 45 Filipino bishops, or more than half of the country’s 86 active Catholic bishops, during his 12-year pontificate, according to the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines (CBCP).

The late pontiff’s first Filipino appointee was Romblon Bishop Narciso Abellana in October 2013, six months after his election as the new pope, said the article posted on the CBCP news website Wednesday night.

The last appointment, meanwhile, was made on April 14, 2025, just one week before Pope Francis’ death, where he named Msgr. Glenn Corsiga of the Diocese of Dumaguete as bishop of Ipil, Zamboanga Sibugay.

The other bishops appointed by the late pope are: Bp. Patrick Daniel Parcon of Talibon; Bp. Severo Caermare of Dipolog; Bp. Marcelino Antonio Maralit, Jr. of San Pablo, former bishop of Boac; Bp. Valentin Dimoc of Bontoc-Lagawe; Bp. Dennis Villarojo of Malolos, former auxiliary Cebu; Bp. Oscar Jaime Florencio of the Military Ordinate, former auxiliary bishop of Cebu; Bp. Jose Elmer Mangalinao of Bayombong, former auxiliary bishop of Lingayen-Dagupan; Bp. Alberto Uy of Tagbilaran; Bp. Socrates Mesiona of Puerto Princesa; Bp. Danilo Ulep of Batanes; Bp. Mel Rey Uy of Lucena; Bp. Rex Ramirez of Naval; and Bp. Abel Apigo of Mati.

Also appointed bishops by Pope Francis were: Bp. Bartolome Santos of Iba; Bp. Louie Galbines of Kabankalan; Bp. Raul Dael of Tandag; Bp. Medel Aseo of Tagum; Bp. Cerilo Alan Casicas of Marbel; Bp. Daniel Presto of San Fernando, La Union; Bp. Nolly Buco of Catarman, former auxiliary bishop of Antipolo; Bp. Marvyn Maceda of San Jose de Antique; Auxiliary Bishop Fidelis Layog of Lingayen-Dagupan; Bp. Leo Dalmao of Isabela de Basilan; Bp. Cosme Damia Almedilla of Butuan; Bp. Jose Rapadas of Iligan; Bp. Roberto Gaa of Novaliches; Bp. Jose Alan Dialogo of Sorsogon; Bp. Charlie Inzon of Jolo; Bp. Moises Cuevas of Calapan, former auxiliary bishop of Zamboanga; Bp. Noel Pedregosa of Malaybalay; Bp. Ruben Labajo of Prosperidad, former auxiliary bishop of Cebu; Bp. Pablito Tagura of San Jose, Occidental Mindoro; Bp. Napoleon Sipalay, Jr., of Alaminos; Bp. Luisito Occiano of Virac; Bp. Rafael Cruz of Baguio; Bp. Elias Ayuban, Jr., CMF, of Cubao; Bp. Euginius Cañete, MJ, of Gumaca; Bp. Rufino Sescon, Jr., of Balanga; Bishop-elect Herman Abcede, RCJ, of Daet; Bishop-elect Ronald Anthony Timoner of Pagadian; and Bishop-elect Glenn Corsiga of Ipil.

In addition to naming new bishops, Pope Francis also elevated 12 Filipino bishops to the rank of archbishop: Abp. Angelito Lampon, OMI, of Cotabato; Abp. Martin Jumoad of Ozamis; Abp. Florentino Lavarias of San Fernando, Pampanga; Abp. Marlo Peralta of Nueva Segovia; Apb. Ricardo Baccay of Tuguegarao; Abp. Gilbert Garcera of Lipa; Abp. Julius Tonel of Zamboanga; Abp. Jose Cabantan of Cagayan de Oro; Archbishop Jose Cardinal Advincula of Manila; Abp. Victor Bendico of Capiz, who was first appointed bishop of Baguio in 2016; Abp. Rex Andrew Alarcon of Caceres, was first appointed bishop of Daet in 2019; and Abp. Midyphil Billones of Jaro, who was first appointed auxiliary bishop of Cebu in 2019.

He also picked the new heads of Philippine dioceses: Isabela de Basilan Bp. Leo Dalmao, Butuan Bp. Cosme Damia Almedilla, Ilagan Bp. Jose Rapadas, Novaliches Bp. Roberto Gaa, Sorsogon Bp. Jose Alan Dialogo, Jolo Bp. Charlie Inzon, Calapan Bp. Moises Cuevas, Malaybalay Bp. Noel Pedregosa, Prosperidad Bp. Ruben Labajo of Prosperidad, San Jose, Occidental Mindoro Bp. Pablito Tagura, Alaminos Bp. Napoleon Sipalay, Jr., Virac Bp. Luisito Occiano, Baguio Bp. Rafael Cruz, Cubao Bp. Elias Ayuban, Jr., Gumaca Bp. Euginius Cañete, Balanga Bp. Rufino Sescon, Jr., Daet Bishop-elect Herman Abcede, Pagadian Bishop-elect Ronald Anthony Timoner.

Pope Francis, who died on April 21 at the age of 88, also elevated at least three Filipino bishops to the College of Cardinals: Advincula; Orlando Quevedo, the archbishop emeritus of Cotabato; and Caloocan Bishop Pablo Virgilio David.

The Holy Father also added one diocese in the country, bringing the total number to 87, after establishing the Diocese of Prosperidad in October 2024, separating it from the Diocese of Butuan.