ZAMBOANGA CITY – Most Rev. Julius Sullan Tonel was installed as the seventh archbishop of the Archdiocese of Zamboanga in a ceremony at the Metropolitan Cathedral of Zamboanga here.
TONEL (center)
The ceremony was officiated by his Archbishop of Manila Jose Cardinal Advincula in the presence of cardinals, bishops, and other members of the clergy.
Tonel served as bishop of the Prelature of Ipil in Ipil, Zamboanga Sibugay. He was formally appointed by Pope Francis last April 25.
Tonel took over from Bishop Moises Cuevas who served as Apostolic Administrator of Zamboanga.
Cuevas was appointed as the fourth Apostolic Vicar of the Apostolic Vicariate of Calapan City, Oriental Mindoro.
Tonel became the vicar general of the Archdiocese of Davao in 2002, appointed bishop on June 30, 2007, and ordained bishop on August 20, 2007 at the San Pedro Cathedral in Davao City.
He was born in Davao City on August 31, 1956 and studied Philosophy at Saint Francis Xavier Minor Seminary in Davao and Theology at the Central Seminary of the University of Santo Tomas in Manila.
He was ordained priest on April 12, 1980 at Santa Ana, Parish, Davao City at the age of 23.