The incoming archbishop of Cagayan de Oro is to take up his new role officially this month.
Archbishop-elect Jose Cabantan, 63, will take over as the fifth holder of the office on Aug. 28, the feast of the city’s patron Saint Augustine.
The outgoing bishop of Malaybalay succeeds Jesuit Archbishop Antonio Ledesma, 77, who retired in June 2020.
Archbishop Cabantan will be installed by Cardinal Orlando Quevedo, the archbishop emeritus of Cotabato, at the Metropolitan Cathedral of St. Augustine.
The Mass will include the imposition of the pallium to be conferred also by Cardinal Quevedo.
The pallium is a liturgical insignia made of white wool only worn by the pope and by archbishops. The pope uses it to symbolize the plenitude of the pontifical office.
For archbishops, it signifies the authority given to them by the pope over their respective archdioceses, particularly their bond and shared responsibility with the pontiff to be pastors in their regions.
Pope Francis on June 23 appointed Archbishop Cabantan to lead the southern Philippine archdiocese with more than a million Catholics in 62 parishes.
The archdiocese covers the suffragan dioceses of Butuan, Malaybalay, Surigao and Tandag.
The city is among the areas under the modified general community quarantine (MGCQ) status where churches can hold services at 50 percent capacity.
The archdiocese reminded the visitors who will be coming from outside Region 10 to secure a medical certificate upon travel, “as this is the health protocol in the city.”
