Cebuano archbishop declared 'Venerable', moves 2 steps closer to sainthood

Pope Francis has approved the promulgation of a decree granting the title "Venerable" to the Servant of God Archbishop Teofilo Camomot.

"On May 21, 2022 the Holy Father Pope Francis authorized Marcello Cardinal Semeraro, Prefect of the Congregation of the Causes of Saints in the Vatican, to promulgate a decree on the heroic virtues of the Servant of God Archbishop Teofilo Bastide Camomot, granting him the title of Venerable," according to the announcement of the Archdiocese of Cebu.

Archbishop Camomot was born in Carcar, Cebu and ordained a priest in 1941. 

He was then appointed Auxiliary Bishop of Jaro in 1955, then Coadjutor Archbishop in Cagayan de Oro.

He founded several religious congregations including  the Carmelite Tertiaries of the Blessed Eucharist that was later called the Congregation of Santa Teresa.

After spending 12 years in Cagayan de Oro, he resigned from his position and returned to Cebu.

The Archbishop died in a vehicular accident on September 27, 1988. He was then 74 years old.

"His dedication to the poor and detachment from material possessions were the trademarks of his ministry," the Cebu archdiocese said in a statement.

In order to be declared a saint, the pope would first have to recognize a miracle attributed to the archbishop’s intercession for him to be beatified.  A second miracle is needed for canonization. -- BAP, GMA News