New Palo archbishop appointed

On the eve of his 56th birthday, Bishop Jose Palma of Calbayog, Western Samar received an unexpected word from Pope Benedict XVI that he was being reassigned to the Archdiocese of Palo, Leyte.

Palma would replace Archbishop Pedro Dean who reached the mandatory retirement age of 75 on Feb. 2 last year, said Msgr. Jain Mendez, charge d’affaires of the Nunciature.

"This was done in accordance with Canon Law. The resignation does not take effect until it is officially accepted by the Holy Father. Archbishop Dean’s resignation was accepted only 13 months later," Mendez said.

The Vatican also announced the transfer of Msgr. Rodolf Beltran, vicar general of the Archdiocese of Tuguegarao, as the new apostolic vicar of Bontoc-Lagawe, Mt. Province.

Beltran would succeed Bishop Cornelio Wigwigan, who died after he was appointed as bishop of the vicariate.

Mendez said no dates have been set for the installation of Palma as Archbishop of Palo and of Beltran as the apostolic vicar of Bontoc-Lagawe.

Palma was born on March 19, 1950 and was ordained as priest at the age of 26. He was consecrated as a bishop when he was 47.

The 57-year-old Beltran entered the Minor Seminary in Tuguegarao at the age of 17, and studied Philosophy and Theology in Vigan.

Beltran, who was born on Nov. 13, 1948, was ordained as priest at 27 and went on to earn his M.A. in Theology at the University of Sto. Tomas and his Doctorate in Philosophy at the Angelicum University in Rome.