Malaybalay Bukidnon prelate named new Archbishop of Cagayan de Oro

The bishop of Malaybalay in Bukidnon has been appointed by Pope Francis as the next archbishop of Cagayan de Oro, according to a report posted on the Catholic Bishops' Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) website.

Bishop Jose Cabantan, 63, will replace Archbishop Antonio Ledesma, who has retired at the age of 77.

The appointment was made public in Rome at 12 noon Tuesday or 6pm in the Philippines.

Cabantan, who was born in Lagonglong town in Misamis Oriental, was ordained a priest when he was already 32 years old.

He is considered a "late vocation" as he first worked as a licensed chemical engineer.

Then, as a priest, he led the social action center of the archdiocese before he was named Malaybalay bishop by Pope Benedict XVI in 2010.

The archbishop-elect also holds a degree in Pastoral Ministry from St. John Vianney Theological Seminary in Cagayan de Oro and a Licentiate in Sacred Theology from the Loyola School of Theology in Manila.

Based on the CBCP website, Cabantan heads the Committee on Basic Ecclesial Communities (BECs). -- BAP, GMA News