MANILA, Philippines - The Vatican has designated 59-year-old San Carlos, Negros Occidental Bishop Jose Advincula as the new head of the Archdiocese of Capiz.
According to CBCPNews, Advincula replaces retired Archbishop Onesimo Gordoncillo who has served the Archdiocese of Capiz for the past 25 years.
Msgr. Gabor Pinter, charge d’affaires of the Apostolic Nunciature, relayed the news of Advincula’s appointment to Msgr. Pedro Quitorio, media director of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines, the other day.
Gordoncillo submitted his retirement papers to the Pope in February 2010 when he turned 75 years old. Canon law requires Catholic bishops to tender their resignation on their 75th birthday.
Gordoncillo would continue to head the Capiz archdiocese as apostolic administrator with powers of an ordinary bishop until Advincula’s installation.
Advincula hails from Dumalag, Capiz. He was ordained priest in 1976 and appointed bishop of San Carlos in 2001.
He is the fourth prelate to head the pastoral jurisdiction but the third archbishop after Capiz was elevated into an archdiocese in 1976.
Advincula is known to strongly oppose the Reproductive Health (RH) bill.
Last April he reportedly called on legislators pushing the passage of the proposed measure to have a “change of heart” and abandon the idea.
He also said he would be praying for the congressmen who have been advocating for the RH bill.
“We will still try to do our best in order to let our voice be heard especially by our legislators and we will continue praying also that they will have a change of heart, especially those who are for the RH bill so that they may sustain our right to support life and also they will support the side of the Catholic Church,” Advincula told Church-run Radyo Veritas.