Pope Names New Bishop of Malaybalay

MANILA, Feb. 18, 2010-Pope Benedict XVI has appointed Fr. Jose Araneta-Cabantan as the new Bishop of Malaybalay in Bukidnon province.

The bishop-elect succeeds Bishop Honesto Pacana, whose resignation was accepted by the pontiff, upon having reached the age limit of 75.

The priest's appointment was released in the Vatican at high noon Thursday, Rome time. It was announced simultaneously in Manila, at 6 p.m. by the Archbishop Edward Joseph Adams, apostolic nuncio to the Philippines.

Pacana is now 77 years old and was ordained and installed as Malaybalay's third prelate on March 24, 1994.

Cabantan was ordained to the priesthood in 1990 and currently pastor of the Miraculous Medal Parish and Social Action Center Director of the Archdiocese of Cagayan de Oro.

Cabantan was born in Lagonglong town, a fifth class municipality in Misamis Oriental in 1957.

Manila cardinal Gaudencio Rosales is one of Cabantan's predecessors, being bishop of Malaybalay from 1984 to 1992.

The Diocese of Malaybalay is served by 80 priests and 164 religious and with around 1.4 million Catholic population.

No date has been set yet for the installation of Cabantan as the new bishop of Malaybalay. (Melo M. Acuña)