Pope Francis names Dela Cruz as archbishop of Zamboanga

By: Edwin Fernandez - 11 years ago

Bishop Romulo dela Cruz Photo from cbcponline.net

COTABATO CITY, Philippines — Pope Francis on Saturday named 66-year old Kidapawan Bishop Romulo dela Cruz as the new archbishop of Zamboanga.

His Eminence Orlando Cardinal Quevedo made the announcement to priests in the archdiocese of Cotabato and diocese of Kidapawan Saturday night after he was informed by Papal Nuncio archbishop Giuseppe Pinto about Pope Francis’ announcement in the Vatican.

Father Jonathan Domingo of the Oblates of Mary Immaculate said the appointment of Bishop Dela Cruz as archbishop of Zamboanga was another blessing for Mindanao after Pope Francis named Archbishop Quevedo, an Oblate, as cardinal and member of the College of Cardinals.

Quevedo, the eighth Filipino cardinal and one of the two in active service, had his 5-in-1 celebration at the Immaculate Concepcion Cathedral here with President Benigno Aquino and Papal Nuncio as among his special guests last Tuesday (Mar. 11), four days before Pope Francis named Dela Cruz as archbishop.

Quevedo turned 75 last March 11 and celebrated his natal day with a thanksgiving mass for his appointment as cardinal, his priestly ordination and his 34 years as bishop and archbishop and the 75th year of OMI presence in the Philippines.

Dela Cruz of the Diocesan Clergy of Cotabato (DCC) has been the bishop of Kidapawan since June 2008 when then Pope Benedict named him as head of Kidapawan diocese replacing then Bishop Romulo Valles who was also named bishop of Zamboanga archdiocese.

Cardinal Quevedo said the priest who would succeed Dela Cruz as bishop of Kidapawan has not been named.

Dela Cruz was born on June 24, 1947 in Balasan, Iloilo.

In December 1987, Pope John Paul II appointed him as Coadjutor Bishop of Isabela, Basilan. His episcopal ordination was on March 16, 1988, and later became Bishop-Prelate of Isabela, Basilan by Succession.

Dela Cruz was appointed Coadjutor Bishop of San Jose de Antique on Jan. 8, 2001. He was installed on April 3, 2001. He succeeded as Bishop of San Jose de Antique on March 16, 2002.

Pope Benedict XVI appointed him Bishop of Kidapawan, Cotabato, on May 14, 2008. He was installed Bishop on June 19, 2008.

Currently, Dela Cruz serves as a member of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) Episcopal Commission on Social Communications and Mass Media and vice chair of the Episcopal Office on Women.