Pope Benedict XVI has named a replacement for Cebu Archbishop Cardinal Ricardo Vidal, an online report said Friday. A UCAN News report said the Pope has named Archbishop Jose Palma of Palo as the new head of the Archdiocese of Cebu, replacing Cardinal Vidal who has retired.
Archbishop Palma is the vice president of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines (CBCP).
Archbishop Edward Joseph Adams, papal nuncio to the Philippines, relayed the news of Archbishop Palma’s appointment to Monsignor Pedro Quitorio, media director of the CBCP.
“I wrote to inform you that the Holy Father Pope Benedict XVI has appointed His Excellency Most Rev. Jose S. Palma until now the Archbishop of Palo, as Archbishop of Cebu,” read the letter of Archbishop Adams dated October 14.Cardinal Vidal submitted his retirement papers to the Pope in February 2006 when he turned 75 years old. Canon law requires that Catholic bishops tender their resignation on their 75th birthday.
Cardinal Vidal will continue to head Cebu archdiocese as Apostolic Administrator with powers of an ordinary bishop until Archbishop Palma’s installation.
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