Pope Francis has appointed San Fernando Archbishop Florentino G. Lavarias as apostolic administrator of the Diocese of Balanga.
Archbishop Florentino Lavarias (Facebook)
The Vatican announced Archbishop Lavarias’ appointment on Saturday, July 22. Bishop Ruperto C. Santos, the former bishop of Balanga was formally installed as the new bishop of the Diocese of Antipolo on the same day.
The 66-year-old archbishop’s appointment was effective immediately.
An apostolic administrator is appointed to temporarily govern a diocese while awaiting the appointment of a diocesan bishop by the Holy Father.
Bishop Santos served the Diocese of Balanga for 13 years. It was his first assignment as bishop.
Archbishop Lavarias, meanwhile, has been the archbishop of the Archdiocese of San Fernando since 2014. He served as the bishop of the Diocese of Iba from 2004 to 2014.