July 12, 2015, 2:22 p.m. – LINGAYEN-Dagupan Archbishop
Socrates Villegas has been reelected as president of the Catholic Bishops’
Conference of the Philippines (CBCP).
Villegas told the Varsitarian
he accepted the reelection with courage and determination.
“When I see my weak self and lack of experience, I am
overcome with fear. When I gaze on the face of God rich in mercy, I take
courage and regain my hope and courage. Thus, I accepted the reelection,”
Villegas said in a text message to the Varsitarian
which was also posted a few minutes later on his official Facebook account.
Villegas, who recently joined the Dominican Clerical
Fraternity of the Philippines, became CBCP president in 2013, replacing Cebu
Archbishop Jose Palma.
Davao Archbishop Romulo Valles was also reelected as vice
president, along with Palo Archbishop John Du as treasurer and Fr. Marvin Mejia
as secretary-general.
The election coincided with the body’s midyear plenary
assembly at the Pope Pius XII Catholic Center in Paco, Manila.
According to a report by CBCP News, majority of the 82
bishops who attended the three-day assembly voted in favor of a second term for
the incumbent CBCP officials.
CBCP officials may serve up to two terms of two years each.
During the plenary assembly, the bishops also elected
members of the CBCP Permanent Council.
The Luzon representatives are Bishop Rodolfo Beltran of San
Fernando in La Union, Bishop Ruperto Santos of Balanga, Bishop Gilbert Garcera
of Daet, Bishop Bernardino Cortez of Infanta, and Bishop Reynaldo Evangelista
of Imus.
Representing the Visayas region are Bishop Crispin Varquez
of Borongan and Bishop Narciso Abellana of Romblon.
Completing the members of the CBCP Permanent Council are
Mindanao representatives Bishop Jose Cabantan of Malaybalay and Bishop Angelito
Lampon of Jolo.
They will serve the conference from December 1, 2015 to
November 30, 2017.
Tagle gets new post
The Vatican, meanwhile announced that Manila Archbishop Luis
Antonio Cardinal Tagle had been appointed member of the Pontifical Council
“Cor Unum.”
Cor Unum is the Vatican body that manages the Church’s
charitable activities and organizes humanitarian responses to disasters.
Tagle, a rising star in the global Church, was earlier
elected president of Caritas Internationalis, the global federation of Catholic
charities. He was one of the three “delegate presidents” of the Third
Extraordinary General Assembly of the Synod of Bishops that tackled issues
about the family. Angeli Mae S. Cantillana
