Florencio ordained as bishop

PALO, LEYTE, Philippines — Close to 200 priests, bishops and archbishops from Eastern Visayas, Cebu and Mindanao witnessed the Episcopal ordination of Bishop Oscar Jaime Llaneta Florencio at the Cathedral of the Transfiguration of Our Lord in this town yesterday morning.

The ordination, led by Palo Archbishop John Du, was also attended by Vatican Nuncio to the Philippines Most Reverend Gusieppe Pinto, Cebu Archbishop Jose Palma and newly ordained Bishop Dennis Villarojo, who will serve with Florencio as auxiliary bishops of Cebu.

Pinto said the appointment of Florencio is among the graces and a consolation after the Archdiocese of Palo suffered great loss during super typhoon Yolanda.

Palma, a former archbishop of Palo, described the ordination of Florencio, a native of Burauen town in Leyte, as a “dream come true,” happening at the culmination of the extraordinary jubilee of mercy.

The new bishop is also a blessing to the Palo Archdiocese, to the Florencio family and to Cebu, he said.

During his homily, Palma also announced that on September 7, Florencio will take his post as assistant bishop of Cebu, per appointment by Pope Francis.

Palma then reminded Florencio to bring consolation to the poor and be constantly responsible for the sanctification of the people under his care.

He recalled how Yolanda tested the faith of the people but was rewarded by the visit of Pope Francis who opted to be with the survivors on January 17 this year.

“We were tested but we were blessed and now we have another beautiful blessing,” said Palma, referring to the ordination of Bishop Florencio.

Lingayen Archbishop Soc Villegas, president of the Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines, told Florencio: “Love the poor, the children, the youth and the priests who are sick, even those who have fallen and stumbled along their way.”

Villegas also advised Florencio: “Don’t make the poor distance (themselves) from you, because at the sunset of our lives, the poor will judge us. They must be able to understand your works and recognize your voice.”

Speaking before a crowd who witnessed Florencio’s ordination, Villegas described how the people’s heart had restored the cathedral, which was destroyed by Yolanda, into “even more beautiful and majestic.”

CBCP Secretary General, Bishop Bernard Panten, said Florencio’s ordination was “very timely for us because some of the Catholic bishops are now growing older.”

Panten said this is also an opportunity for the new bishop to serve because some of the co-bishops are now due for retirement.

The 49-year-old Florencio, for his part, expressed his gratitude to God for the gift of life, of family and friendship and above all gift of priesthood, which he said all came from God.

Florencio also thanked Pope Francis, through Papal Nuncio Pinto, “for this grace” and all the other people who in a way helped him become what he is now. — Miriam Garcia Desacada and Eileen Nazareno-Ballesteros/LPM (FREEMAN)