By Ferdinand Patinio/PNA
MANILA — Bishop Oscar Jaime Florencio on Wednesday was officially installed as the 7th Military Ordinariate of the Philippines.
Catholic Church officials, including Manila Archbishop Luis Antonio Cardinal Tagle, attended the ceremony held at the St. Ignatius de Loyola Cathedral, Camp Aguinaldo, Quezon City.
Florencio believed that his appointment is important as it will help boost the morale of the chaplains.
“This is very significant because it can boost the morale of the chaplains that they have a bishop and a shepherd,” he said in an interview over Church-run Radio Veritas.
“It is significant also because during this Lenten season, it is the renewal of vows of the chaplains on their commitments and they will have to renew that with their new bishop,” he added.
Papal Nuncio to the Philippines Archbishop Gabriele Giordano Caccia was the main presider of the rites while Tagle was the homilist.
Last month, Florencio was named as the Military Ordinariate of the country and will lead Catholics who are serving in the Armed Forces of the Philippines, Philippine Coast Guard, and the Philippine National Police.
According to Catholic Hierarchy data, the military diocese is composed of over 120 priests assigned in 65 parishes all over the country.
He finished his Doctorate in Sacred Theology at the Pontifical University of the Holy Cross in Rome.
