With the appointment of Apostolic Nuncio to the Philippines Archbishop Charles Brown, many are wondering if Pope Francis will also soon name the new Archbishop of Manila.
Catholic prelates said the possibility of appointing an Archbishop for Manila will always be there.
Former Manila Archbishop Luis Antonio Cardinal Tagle was appointed as prefect of the Vatican's Congregation for the Evangelization of Peoples in December, 2019.
In an interview Tuesday, Cubao Bishop Honesto Ongtioco said he is sure that there will be one in "due time."
"Let us pray and hope that it would be next," Balanga Bishop Ruperto Santos said.
Archdiocese of Manila apostolic administrator Bishop Broderick Pabillo said the new nuncio can "facilitate the appointment of the new bishops in vacant dioceses."
Retired Sorsogon Bishop Arturo Bastes explained that one of the most important tasks of the nuncio is to "recommend priests for the episcopal office to the Pope."
"Of course, it will be the priority task of Archbishop Brown to facilitate the appointment of a new Archbishop of Manila. He will soon do a lot of consultations," he said.
Bastes said Archbishop Brown will be very busy as soon as he arrives in Manila as there are other local churches that also need new bishops.
The Vatican announced the appointment of Brown as the new Apostolic Nuncio to the Philippines on Monday.