Pope appoints new La Union apostolic administrator

DAGUPAN CITY ,Philippines  – Pope Benedict XVI has appointed Lingayen-Dagupan Archbishop Socrates Villegas as the Apostolic Administrator of the Diocese of San Fernando, La Union following the death of Bishop Artemio Rillera.

Villegas informed the members of the clergy of the Archdiocese of Lingayen-Dagupan about his recent appointment, as he asked prayers from them.

Under the code of canon law, an interim diocesan administrator must be appointed to oversee the affairs of the diocese when it becomes vacant. A diocese becomes vacant whenever the diocesan bishop dies, resigns, transferred or deprived of his see by the Pope.

Rillera, who died on Nov. 13, will be buried on Nov. 22. Funeral services will be held at the Saint William Cathedral at 9 a.m.

The wake of Rillera is being held at the Diocesan Seminary of the Heart of Jesus located at Barangay San Vicente, San Fernando City.

His remains will be transferred to St. William Cathedral tonight for last public viewing. A necrological service will be held at 3 p.m. tomorrow.

The 69-year-old missionary from the Society of the Divine Word succumbed to asthma attack after holding Mass at the Seminary of the Heart of Jesus.

Rillera was born in Naguilian town, La Union. He was ordained and installed Bishop of Bangued on Aug. 28, 1993.

He was appointed bishop of San Fernando de La Union on April 1, 2005 and installed as its fourth bishop on June 14, 2005.