DAVAO Archbishop Romulo Valles was reelected as the president of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) for his second term, as the country prepares for the celebration of the 500th anniversary since the arrival of Christianity in 2021.
In a statement announced through CBCPNews on Saturday, July 6, Valle's reelection during their plenary assembly in Manila will be his second and last term to lead the conference.
"His reelection would also make him more visible face of the church as it gears for the 500th anniversary of the arrival of Christianity in the Philippines in 2021," the statement said.
It can be recalled that in July 2017, the 67-year-old prelate was first elected as CBCP head replacing Archbishop Socrates Villegas of Lingayen-Dagupan.
Alongside with Valles are Bishop Pablo Virgilio David of Kalookan who was likewise reelected as vice president, Archbishop John Du as treasurer, and Father Marvin Mejia as secretary general.
During the plenary meeting, there were about 83 bishops, 73 of them are active and five are retired, who attended the ongoing assembly at the Pope Pius XII Catholic Center in Manila.
Based on their data, the CBCP is currently composed of 134 members— 83 of them are active, three are administrators, and 45 are retired from 86 ecclesiastical jurisdictions.
"Pope Francis has assured his support to the CBCP members as they began their plenary assembly to discuss matters that affect the Church and the country. He also wished their plenary assembly “bear fruit for the benefit of all the faithful in an environment of living communion," the statement read.
Valles's term will start on December 1, 2019 until November 30, 2021. The CBCP officials have a two-year tenure in office, or a total of four to include the second term.