MANILA — The Vatican on Wednesday has named Cubao Bishop Honesto Ongtioco as apostolic administrator of the diocese of Malolos in Bulacan.
“The Holy See announced this morning the appointment of Cubao Bishop, Most Rev. Honesto F. Ongtioco as the Apostolic Administrator of the Diocese of Malolos following the death of its Bishop last Friday, Most Rev. Jose F. Oliveros,” the Malolos Diocese’s Commission on Social Communications said in a statement Wednesday.
Based on a decree sent by Papal Nuncio Archbishop Gabrielle Caccia through his Charge d’ Affaires in Manila, Msgr. Arnaldo Catalan, to Rev. Msgr. Pablo S. Legaspi Jr., Vicar-General of Malolos regarding Ongtioco’s appointment.
“Bishop Ongtioco is to exercise his office as Apostolic Administrator of the Diocese of Malolos “with all the faculties and rights to exercise the office of a diocesan bishop” according to No. 244 of the Apostolorum Successores or Directory of Pastoral Ministry of Bishops,” it added.
The decree was issued in Rome by His Eminence Marc Cardinal Ouellet, Prefect of the Congregation for Bishops on May 12, a day after the death of Oliveros.
The late Catholic prelate is the fourth Bishop of Malolos, but the first incumbent bishop to die in office.
His interment is set Thursday at the crypt of the Cathedral Basilica of the Immaculate Conception in Malolos after a requiem mass.
The faithful are encouraged to pray for his eternal rest. (PNA)
