Metropolitan Archdiocese of Palo, Philippines

Continent: South and East Asia

Rite: Roman (Latin)

Type: Metropolitan Archdiocese Metr. Archdiocese

Name: Palo / Palen(sis) (Latin)

Suffragan Sees: Borongan, Calbayog, Catarman, Naval

Depends on: Dicastery for Bishops

Websites:

Celebrations

Patron Saint: Transfiguration of Our Lord (August 6)

Cathedral Dedication Anniversary: October 19

Liturgical Calendar (National) 📅

History

1937.11.28: Established as Diocese of Palo / Palen(sis) (Latin) (from Diocese of Calbayog and became suffragan of Manila)
1968.03.23: Lost territory to establish Diocese of Maasin
1982.11.15: Promoted as Metropolitan Archdiocese of Palo / Palen(sis) (Latin) (with suffragan sees Borongan, Calbayog and Catarman)
1988.11.29: Lost territory to establish Diocese of Naval and gained suffragan see Naval

Papal Visits

Pope Francis (2015.01)

Present Prelates

Metropolitan Archbishop (2012.02.25 – ...):

Archbishop John Forrosuelo Du (69)

Ordinaries

Metropolitan Archbishops of Palo (Roman Rite)

Archbishop John Forrosuelo Du (69)
(2012.02.25 – ...)

Metropolitan Archbishop of Palo (Philippines)

Christus lux mea

Born:	1954.10.18 (Bantayan, Philippines)
Ordained Priest:	1979.06.01
Consecrated Bishop:	1998.01.06

Priest of Cebu (Philippines) (1979.06.01 – 1997.11.21)

Titular Bishop of Timici (1997.11.21 – 2001.04.21)

Auxiliary Bishop of Cebu (Philippines) (1997.11.21 – 2001.04.21)

Bishop of Dumaguete (Philippines) (2001.04.21 – 2012.02.25)

Metropolitan Archbishop of Palo (Philippines) (2012.02.25 – ...)

Archbishop Jose Serofia Palma (74)
(2006.03.18 – 2010.10.15)

Metropolitan Archbishop of Cebu (Philippines)

Non nobis Domine

Born:	1950.03.19 (Dingle, Philippines)
Ordained Priest:	1976.08.21
Consecrated Bishop:	1998.01.13

Priest of Jaro (Philippines) (1976.08.21 – 1997.11.28)

Titular Bishop of Vazari-Didda (1997.11.28 – 1999.01.13)

Auxiliary Bishop of Cebu (Philippines) (1997.11.28 – 1999.01.13)

Bishop of Calbayog (Philippines) (1999.01.13 – 2006.03.18)

Metropolitan Archbishop of Palo (Philippines) (2006.03.18 – 2010.10.15)

Metropolitan Archbishop of Cebu (Philippines) (2010.10.15 – ...)

President of Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines (C.B.C.P.) (2011.12.01 – 2013.12.01)

Archbishop Pedro Rosales Dean (94)
(1985.10.12 – 2006.03.18)

Metropolitan Archbishop emeritus of Palo (Philippines)

Unitas in caritate

Born:	1930.02.21 (Calbayog, Philippines)
Ordained Priest:	1956.11.30
Consecrated Bishop:	1978.01.25

Priest of Cebu (Philippines) (1956.11.30 – 1977.12.12)

Auxiliary Bishop of Davao (Philippines) (1977.12.12 – 1980.07.23)

Titular Bishop of Thuccabora (1977.12.12 – 1980.10.11)

Bishop-Prelate of Tagum (Philippines) (1980.07.23 – 1980.10.11)

Bishop of Tagum (Philippines) (1980.10.11 – 1985.10.12)

Metropolitan Archbishop of Palo (Philippines) (1985.10.12 – 2006.03.18)

Archbishop Cipriano Urgel Villahermosa
(1982.11.15 – 1985.04.22)

Jesus est Filius Dei

Born:	1918.09.26 (Philippines)
Ordained Priest:	1945.03.17
Consecrated Bishop:	1962.06.12
Died:	1985.04.22 († 66)

Bishop of Calbayog (Philippines) (1962.03.22 – 1973.04.12)

Bishop of Palo (Philippines) (1973.04.12 – 1982.11.15)

Metropolitan Archbishop of Palo (Philippines) (1982.11.15 – 1985.04.22)

Bishops of Palo (Roman Rite)

Bishop Cipriano Urgel Villahermosa (later Archbishop)
(1973.04.12 – 1982.11.15)

(see above)

Bishop Manuel S. Salvador (later Archbishop)
(1969.10.21 – 1972.09.25)

Born:	1925.01.07 (Philippines)
Ordained Priest:	1953.03.02
Consecrated Bishop:	1967.01.19
Died:	1996.07.14 († 71)

Titular Bishop of Nasbinca (1966.12.03 – 1969.10.21)

Auxiliary Bishop of Cebu (Philippines) (1966.12.03 – 1969.10.21)

Bishop of Palo (Philippines) (1969.10.21 – 1972.09.25)

Titular Bishop of Zarna (1972.09.25 – 1973.01.26)

Titular Archbishop of Zarna (1973.01.26 – 1996.07.14)

Coadjutor Archbishop of Cebu (Philippines) (1973.01.26 – 1996.07.14)

Bishop Teotimo C. Pacis, C.M.
(1966.11.18 – 1969.05.23)

Born:	1913.04.20
Ordained Priest:	1943.03.20
Consecrated Bishop:	1967.01.25
Died:	1984.07.08 († 71)

Bishop of Palo (Philippines) (1966.11.18 – 1969.05.23)

Bishop of Legazpi (Philippines) (1969.05.23 – 1980.06.04)

Bishop Lino R. Gonzaga y Rasdesales (later Archbishop)
(1951.11.12 – 1966.08.12)

Trust in the Lord

Born:	1906.05.31 (Philippines)
Ordained Priest:	1929.03.19
Consecrated Bishop:	1952.01.08
Died:	1980.08.15 († 74)

Bishop of Palo (Philippines) (1951.11.12 – 1966.08.12)

President of Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines (C.B.C.P.) (1966 – 1970)

Metropolitan Archbishop of Zamboanga (Philippines) (1966.08.12 – 1973.08.22)

Bishop Manuel Mascariñas y Morgia
(1937.12.16 – 1951.11.12)

Confido in Domino

Born:	1897.01.17 (Philippines)
Ordained Priest:	1924.06.14
Consecrated Bishop:	1938.03.25
Died:	1980.05.08 († 83)

Bishop of Palo (Philippines) (1937.12.16 – 1951.11.12)

Bishop of Tagbilaran (Philippines) (1951.11.12 – 1976)

Former Prelates

Auxiliary Bishop: Bishop Isabelo Caiban Abarquez (64) (2004.06.19 – 2007.01.05)
Auxiliary Bishop: Bishop Filomeno Gonzales Bactol (84) (1981.07.29 – 1988.11.29)

Special Churches

Cathedral: Cathedral of the Transfiguration of Our Lord, Palo, Leyte, Eastern Visayas
Shrines in the Extraordinary Jubilee of Mercy

Churches by City (86)

Cebu (↙), Naval (↖), Calbayog (↑), Borongan (↗), Maasin (↓)

Statistics (2021.12.31)

Area: 4,620 km²

Population: 1,520,000 Catholics (96.0% of 1,584,000 total)

Pastoral Centres: 88 parishes, 14 missions

Personnel: 176 priests (150 diocesan, 26 religious), 225 religious (35 brothers, 190 sisters), 93 seminarians