Pope Leo XIV appoints Boholano priest new bishop of Tagbilaran diocese

On the celebration of the Solemnity of the Annunciation of the Lord, Pope Leo XIV has appointed on Wedensday a priest from Bohol province as the new bishop of the Diocese of Tagbilaran.

Msgr. Gerardo Fortich Saco, Jr., currently the diocesan administrator, succeeds Archbishop Alberto "Abet" Uy who had to leave his post after his appointment as Archbishop of the Archdiocese of Cebu.

Msgr. Saco, according to details posted by the Vatican, was born on 16 October 1965 in Tagbilaran City, Bohol.

"He studied philosophy at the Immaculate Heart of Mary Seminary in Tagbilaran City, and theology at the San Carlos Seminary of Cebu City. He was ordained a priest on 26 April 1993, and incardinated in the diocese of Tagbilaran."

Saco held several positions including parish vicar at Saint Vincent Ferrer in Calape, Bohol (1993–1997) and parish priest at Santa Monica in Albuquerque (1997–2001).

He was a missionary in Libya (2001–2003) and a visiting priest at Our Lady Queen of Martyrs in Centerport, New York (2003–2005).

Back in Bohol, he became parish priest of Our Lady of Lourdes in Tagbilaran City (2005–2009); parish priest of Our Lady of the Assumption in Dauis (2009–2015); parish priest of Holy Cross in Maribojoc and episcopal vicar for the Laity (2015–2021); parish priest of Most Holy Trinity in Tagbilaran City and vicar forane (2021–2025) and vicar general (2023–2025). — BAP, GMA Integrated News