MANILA, Philippines - Philippine Ambassador to the Holy See Mercedes Reinares-Arrastia Tuazon has said Pope Benedict XVI is expected to name new bishops in the country soon.
The CBCPNews, the official news provider of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines, reported that Tuazon was informed by the Papal Nuncio to the Philippines Archbishop Edward Joseph Adams that the Pope is interested in naming more Filipino bishops soon.
A number of Filipino archbishops and bishops have already reached retirement age, while a number of dioceses have no resident bishops.
To date, Masbate has yet to have a bishop with the appointment of Bishop Joel Baylon to Legazpi last year.
The Archdiocese of Caceres still has to have an auxiliary after Bishop Jose Rojas Jr. was appointed Bishop of Libmanan.
The Auxiliary Bishop of the Archdiocese of Lipa, Salvador Quizon retired on April 2, 2002.
The CBCPNews said that two of the country’s two cardinals – Cebu Archbishop Ricardo Cardinal Vidal and Manila Archbishop Gaudencio Cardinal Rosales are set to retire anytime.
In the Philippines, a majority or about 81 percent of the 90 million people are Catholic or approximately 72.9 million.
The ambassador also confirmed reports that the Philippine Church has sent an invitation to the Holy Father to visit the Philippines next year.
Earlier reports said the Pope was invited to grace the quadricentennial celebration of the Pontifical University of Santo Tomas which was established in 1611 by Dominican missionaries.
Tuazon said she anticipates the Holy Father’s visit to the Philippines.