ILOILO CITY — After Pope Francis appointed a new archbishop, the Archdiocese of Jaro has expressed gratitude to the pastoral mission of Archbishop Emeritus Jose Romeo “Romy” Lazo.

“We give our gratitude to Archbishop Emeritus Lazo for his gift of shepherding and ministry,” the Jaro Archdiocese said in a statement released on Tuesday, Feb. 4.
“We pray that the seed he has planted in our Local Church, by the grace of God, may bear fruit that will live for generations to come!” added the Jaro Archdiocese.
Pope Francis approved Lazo’s resignation after reaching the age of 75 last year and the subsequent appointment of Bishop Midyphil “Dodong” Bermejo Billones as the new archbishop on Feb. 2.
“In his wisdom and simplicity, Archbishop Lazo fostered his pastoral mission of Vobiscum Ambulare — journeying with the people of the Local Church of Jaro, starting with the clergy, the religious, the lay, and ordinary faithful of goodwill,” said the Archdiocese of Jaro.
During his tenure, Lazo had open consultations.
One of these was on the proposal to create two additional suffragan dioceses under the Archdiocese of Jaro which covers Catholic churches in Iloilo City; the 42 towns and a component city in Iloilo province; and the island province of Guimaras.
It was also during Lazo’s tenure that the Archdiocese adopted a parish in Africa. Lazo went to Turkana, Kenya last November 2020 as the parish in Kaaleng village was formally established.
Lazo also introduced reforms under the Archdiocesan Curia by creating clusters of commissions and offices.
Fr. Angelo Colada, the Archdiocese’s social communications director, said that they are awaiting Lazo’s decision if he will remain at the archdiocese or go home to Antique province.
Colada said that Lazo is currently out of the country.
Lazo was appointed Jaro archbishop in February 2018. He took over Angel Lagdameo who retired.