Pope Benedict XVI creates new diocese in RP

MANILA, Philippines — Pope Benedict XVI has created a new diocese in the Philippines and named its bishop. An article posted on CBCP Web site said the Pope elevated the Prelature of Libmanan in Camarines Sur and appointed Fr. Jose Rojas, 52, as its bishop. The Pope's announcement was relayed by Archbishop Edward Jospeh Adams in a letter sent to the Catholoic Bishops Conference of the Philippines. Adams is the Pope's envoy to the Philippines. The elevation came one month after the CBCP endorsed to the Vatican the petition of the Prelature of Libmanan. The Prelature of Libmanan was "canonically erected March 19, 1990," the article said. The Libmanan diocese has nearly 500,000 Catholics. It has 27 parishes and 51 priests. Following the Pope’s order, the Philippine Catholic Church now has a total of 16 archdioceses, 52 dioceses, seven apostolic vicariates, five territorial prelatures, and one military ordinariate. The CBCP has more than 100 active member cardinals, archbishops, and bishops as well as more than two dozen honorary members. - GMANews.TV