Prelate says 9 Catholic bishop posts in PHL vacant

Philippine Catholics are in need of nine bishops to fill in vacant episcopal posts throughout the country, a prelate said Friday.

In an interview on church-run Radyo Veritas, Ozamis Archbishop Martin Jumoad urged Filipino Catholics to pray for the gift of more bishops as nine dioceses have no sitting local ordinary.

“Rome will decide on the matter. But, let us pray and mag-respond sana ang mga pari at mga obispo. That they will do their work immediately,” Jumoad said.

"Sede vacante" is the term Rome uses for vacant bishop post, with Jumoad saying that all in all, the Philippines has more than 140 bishops, including the retired.

He thanked Pope Francis for ordaining Bishop Raul Dael and installing him as new bishop of the Diocese of Tandag.

Jumoad also expressed his joy for Pope Francis' efforts to ordain and install more bishops to take care of some 86 million Catholics in across the country.

This year alone, the Pope has installed seven new bishops to fill up vacant episcopal posts in different dioceses.

Aside from Bishop Dael, Pope Francis installed bishops-elect Abel Apigo for Mati; Bartolome Santos  for Iba; Louie Galbines for Kabankalan; Medil Aseo for Tagum; Daniel Presto for La Union; and Cerilo Casicas for Marbel.

“Maganda at kailangan ‘yun kasi we are a catholic country, so ‘yun talaga bigyang pansin bigyang halaga,” Jumoad added.

Dioceses without a sitting bishop includes: Butuan, Daet, Ilagan, Iligan, Isabela, Malolos, Military Ordinariate, San Jose de Antique and San Jose Mindoro.

Also, he noted that three bishops in Mindanao are expected to retire this year, including Cagayan de Oro Archbishop Antonio Ledesma, 75; Cotabato Archbishop Orlando Cardinal Quevedo, 79; and Pagadian Bishop Emmanuel Cabajar.

Based on Catholic Church law, the retirement age of bishops is 75. —LBG, GMA News