DAVAO CITY (MindaNews) – Pope Benedict XVI has named Archbishop Romulo Geolina Valles of Zamboanga City as the new Archbishop of Davao vice Arcbhishop Fernando Capalla who has retired.
Valles’ appointment was reported in the Daily Bulletin of the Holy See Press Office.
He will be the fourth arcbbishop of Davao.
Capalla, also convenor of the Bishops-Ulama Conference, celebrated his 75th birthday on November 1, 2009 but he continued serving as Archbishop pending the appointment of his successor, whose name was announced at noon in Rome (7 p.m. in Manila).
Under Canon law, a diocesan bishop who has reached 75 “is requested to present his resignation from office to the Supreme Pontiff, who will make provision after he has examined all the circumstances.”
Born in Maribojoc, Bohol, Valles, 60, graduated valedictorian at the Maryknoll High School in Lupon, Davao Oriental in 1968. He took up his Philosophy and Theology at the St. Francis Xavier Regional Major Seminary in Davao City, where he again topped his class.
Ordained priest in the Diocese of Tagum on April 6, 1976, Valles was named Bishop of Kidapawan on June 24, 1997 and Archbishop of Zamboanga on November 13, 2006.
Capalla was appointed Coadjutor Archbishop of Davao on June 28, 1994 and, upon the retirement of Archbishop Antonio Ll. Mabutas, was installed as the third Archbishop of Davao on November 28, 1996.
Capalla, also convenor of the Bishops-Ulama Conference, celebrated his 75th birthday on November 1, 2009 but his successor was not named until Saturday noon in Rome (7 p.m. in Manila).
The Archdiocese of Zamboanga has 23 parishes while the Archdiocese of Davao has 34. (Carolyn O. Arguillas/MindaNews)