Pope names Bishop Ledesma Archbishop of Cagayan de Oro;
new auxiliary bishop for Davao

His Holiness Benedict XVI has accepted the resignation presented by His Excellency Jesus B. Taquib from the governance of the Archdiocese of Cagayan de Oro. At the same time he has appointed Bishop Antonio Javellana Ledesma, S.J., as the Archbishop of Cagayan de Oro.

Archbishop Tuquib actually submitted his resignation, in accordance with Canon Law, on his 75 th birthday, June 22, 2005. But his resignation was accepted only on Saturday, March 4, 2005. He will remain as the Apostolic Administrator of the Archdiocese of Cagayan de Oro until the installation of Bishop Ledesma.

The news was officially published in the Vatican at high noon on Saturday, March 4. It was released simultaneously in Manila by Archbishop Antonio Franco, Apostolic Nuncio to the Philippines. Manila is seven hours ahead of Rome, by the International Time Belts, so it became public only at 7:00 p.m., our time.

Bishop Antonio Ledesma is 63 years old. Born in Iloilo, he was ordained priest in 1973, and ordained as Bishop in 1996. For the last ten years he has been Bishop of the Prelature of Ipil. In July of 2005 he was elected Vice President of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines, assuming office on December 1, 2005.

Archbishop Tuquib served as Bishop of Pagadian for eleven years, and then as Coadjutor Archbishop of Cagayan de Oro for four. He has been the Archbishop of Cagayan de Oro for the last 18 years.

Benedict XVI also appointed Monsignor George Beluso Rimando as Auxiliary Bishop of Davao, assisting Archbishop Fernando R. Capalla. Born in Tagum, Davao del Norte. Monsignor Rimando is 53 years old. At present he is the Vicar Forane and Administrator of Merville, Tagum City.

He studied Philosophy at St. Francis Xavier College Seminary in Davao City, and his Theology at San Jose Major Seminary in Quezon City. At Loyola School of Theology, in the Ateneo de Manila University, he earned an M.A. in Theology, and a second Master’s Degree in Organization, Development and Planning.

He served first as Dean of the Seminary in Tagum City, and then as Rector. For five years he was a Guest Priest in the Archdioceses of New York and of Los Angeles.

No date has been set either for the installation of Bishop Ledesma as Archbishop of Cagayan de Oro, or for the installation of Monsignor Rimando as Auxiliary Bishop of Davao.