His Excellency Arch. Jose Palma of Palo and now newly appointed Archbishop of Cebu.MANILA, Philippines - Pope Benedict XVI has named a replacement for Cebu Archbishop Cardinal Ricardo Vidal, an online report said Friday.
A UCAN News report said the Pope has named Archbishop Jose Palma of Palo as the new head of the Archdiocese of Cebu, replacing Cardinal Vidal who has retired.
Archbishop Palma is the vice president of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines (CBCP).
Archbishop Edward Joseph Adams, papal nuncio to the Philippines, relayed the news of Archbishop Palma’s appointment to Monsignor Pedro Quitorio, media director of the CBCP.
“I wrote to inform you that the Holy Father Pope Benedict XVI has appointed His Excellency Most Rev. Jose S. Palma until now the Archbishop of Palo, as Archbishop of Cebu,” read the letter of Archbishop Adams dated October 14.
Cardinal Vidal submitted his retirement papers to the Pope in February 2006 when he turned 75 years old. Canon law requires that Catholic bishops tender their resignation on their 75th birthday.
Cardinal Vidal will continue to head Cebu archdiocese as Apostolic Administrator with powers of an ordinary bishop until Archbishop Palma’s installation. [ABS-CBN News Online]
MANILA, Oct. 15, 2010—A known human rights advocate is the new archbishop of the Catholic Archdiocese of Cebu in a papal appointment announced Friday.
Palo Archbishop Jose Palma will replace Ricardo Cardinal Vidal whose resignation was finally accepted by Pope Benedict XVI.
Vidal has submitted to the Holy Father his letter of resignation in 2006 2hen he turned 75 years old.
Palma’s appointment was made at the Vatican at noon (6 p.m. Manila time) on October 15, 2010.
In the Philippines, the announcement was made by Papal nuncio to the Philippines, Archbishop Edward Joseph Adams, in a communiqué sent to the CBCP Media Office in Manila.
Reached CBCPNews for his reaction, Palma said he is sincerely grateful for his most recent appointment as Cebu archbishop.
Palma said he is “overwhelmed by the love of God” and the trust of the Holy Father.
“Unworthy as I am, I accepted the appointment out of obedience,” he said.
The Cebu-archbishop elect was a vocal opponent of extra-judicial killings in Samar Island.
Palma was then the bishop of Calbayog when retired Army General Jovito Palparan was still the commanding officer of the 8th Infantry Division based in Catbalogan, Samar.
At that time, Palma did not minced words by telling the public through that the military under the command Palparan was responsible on the numerous reports on human rights violations there.
He also pressed the government to pursue criminal prosecution of the retired military officer.
As bishop of Calbayog, he joined the other bishops of Samar crusading for environmental preservation and protection of the island.
It was in March 2006 when the 60-year old prelate was appointed as archbishop of Palo in Leyte province.
Palma was born in Dingle, Iloilo on March 19, 1950. He studied his philosophy at St. Vincent Ferrer Seminary and his theology at St. Joseph Regional Seminary.
He then earned his Licentiate in Sacred Theology at the University of Sto. Tomas in Manila, and his doctorate at the St. Thomas Aquinas Pontifical University in Rome.
Palma was ordained priest for the Archdiocese of Jaro on August 21, 1976. After a year as parochial vicar at the Jaro Cathedral, he was given a teaching assignment in St. Vincent Ferrer Seminary.
He then became rector of the St. Joseph Regional Seminary. At the same time he occupied several positions in the diocese. In 1997 he became the parish priest of the Parish of St. Anthony of Padua in Jaro.
In 1998, he was named Auxiliary Bishop of Cebu by then Pope John Paul II. A year later, he was transferred to the Diocese of Calbayog.
Palma is currently serving his first term as vice president of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philipines.
Vidal, meanwhile, was born on February 6, 1931, in Mogpog on Marinduque Island. He led the Cebu archdiocese since September 1982.
Like the late Manila Archbishop Jaime Cardinal sin, Vidal often spoke out on important issues not only relating to Church and religion but also on social and national concerns.
Vidal, however, had been opposed to protest actions and the use of force which, according to him, is dangerous and useless in promoting change and progress in the country.
He also served as president of the CBCP from 1986 to 1987. From 1985 to 1994, he chaired the standing committee of the Federation of Asian Bishops' Conferences.
The senior prelate has received several awards his dedication to the Filipino people, including by the secular world.
In 1998, the Cultural Center of the Philippines presented him with the Outstanding Filipino Award. In 2002, the University of Southern Philippines Vidal awarded him the Rizal Peace Prize. (Roy Lagarde and Melo M. Acuña)
