Pope Francis has accepted the early retirement of Diocese of Catarman Bishop Emmanuel C. Trance due to health concerns.
The Pontiff has appointed Diocese of Antipolo Auxiliary Bishop Nolly Buco as the apostolic administrator of the diocese in Northern Samar until a new bishop is named.
The Vatican made the announcement on Friday, Dec. 8.
The 70-year-old bishop resigned five years ahead of the mandatory retirement age of 75 for bishops due to health reasons.
“Due to health reasons, and the need of the diocese to be led by a healthier and stronger bishop, I have asked the Holy Father to relieve me of the pastoral care of the diocese,” the Church leader said during mass on the Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception at the Catarman Cathedral on Dec. 8.
Bishop Trance was born on Aug. 18, 1953 in Calinog, Iloilo City. He was ordained a priest on May 17, 1978.
Pope John Paul II appointed him Coadjutor Bishop of Catarman on Aug. 12, 2004. He was ordained bishop on July 22, 2004. On March 11, 2005 he was appointed bishop of the diocese following the retirement of its first bishop Angel Hobayan (1974-2005) on March 10, 2005.
He currently serves as vice chairman of the Catholic Bishops' Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) Episcopal Commission on Ecumenical Affairs and member of the Episcopal Commission on Social Action, Justice and Peace.
Bishop Buco, on the other hand, was ordained a priest for the Diocese of Antipolo in 1993 and was appointed as the auxiliary bishop of Antipolo in July 2018.