Bishop Tonel to be installed as new Zamboanga archbishop on August 22
Bishop Julius Tonel will be formally installed as the seventh archbishop of the Archdiocese of Zamboanga on August 22.
Courtesy of Bishop Julius Tonel
The 65-year-old Church leader will be installed as the new shepherd of the Zamboanga archdiocese during a holy mass to be held at the Metropolitan Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception in Zamboanga City, the CBCP said. Bishop Tonel served as the bishop of Ipil in Zamboanga Sibugay province for around 15 years. The Vatican announced his new assignment on April 25. The Archdiocese of Zamboanga has been without an archbishop since Dec. 10, 2021, following the passing of its former head Archbishop Romulo de la Cruz who died due to a lingering illness. But even before De la Cruz passed away, the archdiocese had been under the care of Auxiliary Bishop Moises Cuevas, who Pope Francis appointed as apostolic administrator “sede plena” on Aug. 11, 2021. “Sede plena” is a term used to signify that a diocese is still occupied by a bishop. After Bishop Tonel’s installation, the Diocese of Ipil will become “sede vacante” until a new bishop is named by Pope Francis.
Courtesy of Bishop Julius Tonel
The 65-year-old Church leader will be installed as the new shepherd of the Zamboanga archdiocese during a holy mass to be held at the Metropolitan Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception in Zamboanga City, the CBCP said. Bishop Tonel served as the bishop of Ipil in Zamboanga Sibugay province for around 15 years. The Vatican announced his new assignment on April 25. The Archdiocese of Zamboanga has been without an archbishop since Dec. 10, 2021, following the passing of its former head Archbishop Romulo de la Cruz who died due to a lingering illness. But even before De la Cruz passed away, the archdiocese had been under the care of Auxiliary Bishop Moises Cuevas, who Pope Francis appointed as apostolic administrator “sede plena” on Aug. 11, 2021. “Sede plena” is a term used to signify that a diocese is still occupied by a bishop. After Bishop Tonel’s installation, the Diocese of Ipil will become “sede vacante” until a new bishop is named by Pope Francis.