Pope Leo appoints new bishop of Bacolod diocese

Bishop-designate Louie Galbines of Kabankalan was appointed as the shepherd of his home diocese of Bacolod in Negros Occidental by Pope Leo XIV, the CBCP News reported.

He will succeed Bishop Patricio Buzon, who served the diocese for 10 years.

Galbines, 59, was born in Aliwanag, Sagay City, Negros Occidental. studied philosophy and theology at the University of Santo Tomas (UST) Central Seminary in Manila before his priestly ordination for Bacolod in 1994.

The CBCP News report stated that Galbines was the deputy dean and spiritual director of Sacred Heart Seminary in Bacolod and chancellor and secretary of the diocesan curia.

He later studied at the Pontifical University of St. Thomas Aquinas, earning licentiate and doctoral degrees in sacred theology in 2001.

Back in the country, Galbines served as a collaborator with the bishops’ conference and later held several diocesan leadership posts, including rector of Sacred Heart Seminary and vicar general of Bacolod.

It was Pope Francis who appointed him bishop of Kabankalan in March 2018.

Meanwhile, 76-year-old Bishop Buzon retired after surpassing the mandatory retirement age for Catholic bishops.

He is a member of the Salesians of St. John Bosco, and was ordained a priest in 1976 and has served as a bishop for 23 years. Before his assignment to Bacolod, he spent 13 years as bishop of Kabankalan. — BAP, GMA News