Pope Francis appoints new archbishop in Ilocos Sur

Pope Francis appointed this week a new archbishop for the Archdiocese of Nueva Segovia in Ilocos Sur, the Catholic Bishops' Conference of the Philippines said Tuesday.

 

The CBCP said the Pope named Bishop Marlo Peralta of Alaminos to head the archdiocese, replacing Archbishop Ernesto Salgado, who turned 77 last November.

 

"Peralta is 63 years old, born on July 13, 1950 in San Carlos, Pangasinan. He was ordained a priest at the age of 25 in 1975," the CBCP said on its news site.

 

The date for Peralta's installation has yet to be set, the CBCP added.

 

The CBCP said the archdiocese has a population of 718,000, of which some 85 percent are Catholics. 

 

Peralta had been appointed by Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI as Coadjutor bishop of Alaminos on Jan. 14, 2006.

 

He then became bishop of Alaminos by succession on July 1, 2007. — ELR, GMA News