Episcopal leadership in the Philippines saw significant changes in 2025, with six new bishops and four archbishops appointed under Popes Francis and Leo XIV.
At least two new bishops were appointed by Pope Francis before his death on April 21.
On March 4, Francis named Rogationist missionary Herman Abcede bishop of the Diocese of Daet, filling a vacant see since Archbishop Rex Andrew Alarcon’s transfer to Caceres in 2019. Abcede was ordained and installed May 1.
This was followed by the April 2 appointment of Daet priest Ronald Anthony Timoner as bishop of Pagadian, vacant since the death of Bishop Ronald Lunas in January 2024. His episcopal ordination and installation were held Aug. 13.
Glenn Corsiga of Ipil was the last Filipino bishop appointed by Francis, a week before the pope’s death. A priest of the Diocese of Dumaguete, Corsiga was ordained July 29 and installed Aug. 14.
The Diocese of Ipil had been “sede vacante” following the transfer of Archbishop Julius Tonel to Zamboanga in August 2023.
Pope Leo made his first Philippine episcopal appointment May 16, naming Dave Capucao of the Prelature of Infanta to succeed retired Bishop Bernardino Cortez.
Capucao was ordained and installed Sept. 5, coinciding with the prelature’s 75th founding anniversary.
Pope Leo on Oct. 4 also appointed Edwin Panergo bishop of Boac, succeeding Bishop Marcelino Antonio Maralit Jr., who was transferred to the Diocese of San Pablo in 2024.
Panergo, a priest of the Diocese of Lucena, was ordained to the episcopate Dec. 1 and installed Dec. 2.
On Nov. 21, the pontiff named Divine Word missionary Samuel Agcaracar bishop of San Jose in Nueva Ecija. He is scheduled for episcopal ordination Jan. 17 and installation Feb. 6.
Agcaracar will succeed Bishop Roberto Mallari, who now leads the Diocese of Tarlac.
New archbishops
Several bishops were also elevated to archbishops during the year, reflecting wider leadership realignments.
Midyphil Billones, then auxiliary bishop of Cebu, was appointed archbishop of Jaro on Feb. 2 under Pope Francis and installed April 2. He succeeded retired Archbishop Jose Romeo Lazo.
Under Leo XIV, Alberto Uy, then bishop of Tagbilaran, was appointed archbishop of Cebu on July 16 and installed Sept. 30, succeeding retired Archbishop Jose Palma.
Charlie Inzon, then apostolic vicar of Jolo, was named archbishop of Cotabato on Sept. 8 and installed Dec. 8, replacing retired Archbishop Angelito Lampon.
David William Antonio, outgoing bishop of Ilagan, was appointed archbishop of Nueva Segovia on Nov. 4, following the retirement of Archbishop Marlo Peralta. His installation is scheduled Jan. 14, 2026.
Vatican, diplomatic, U.S. Church appointments
Outside the Philippines, Archbishop Bernardito Auza was appointed by Pope Francis as apostolic nuncio to the European Union on March 22, after more than five years as nuncio to Spain and Andorra.
In Rome, Pope Leo on May 24 gave Cardinal Luis Antonio Tagle, pro-prefect of the Dicastery for Evangelization, the title of cardinal of Albano.
The move was seen as a sign of trust, as Albano was Leo’s titular see before his election as pope May 8.
Cardinals are symbolically attached to Roman churches or dioceses as a sign of their connection to the Vatican and the pope. Members of the Order of Cardinal Bishops traditionally receive one of the seven “suburbicarian” dioceses surrounding Rome.
The pope also named Laoag native Andres Ligot auxiliary bishop of the Diocese of San Jose, California, on Aug. 29. Ligot was ordained Nov. 3, becoming the sixth bishop of Filipino descent serving in the United States.
Necrology
The Philippine Church also mourned the deaths of three prelates in 2025: Bishop Jose Bontolo of Masbate, and retired bishops Warlito Cajandig of Calapan and Nestor Cariño of Legazpi.
Bontolo died Dec. 13, leaving Masbate without a diocesan bishop. Cajandig died Oct. 21, while Cariño passed away May 24.
As the year endes, at least six ecclesiastical territories remain without bishops: the dioceses of Tagbilaran, Kalibo, Ilagan and Masbate, and the apostolic vicariates of Tabuk and Jolo.
