Pope Francis has named three priests from the Diocese of Borongan in Eastern Samar province in the central Philippines as “Chaplains to His Holiness” with the title of Monsignor.
The new papal chaplains are Msgr. Lope Robredillo, Msgr. Eutiquio “Euly” Belizar, Jr., and Msgr. Romeo Solidon.
Msgr. Robredillo is the diocese’s vicar general and chairman of two diocesan commissions: Liturgy and Cultural Heritage of the Church. He is also the parish priest at St. Nicholas of Tolentino Parish in Quinapondan town.
Msgr. Belizar, who is currently on sabbatical leave, heads the diocese’s Commission on Doctrine of the Faith, while Msgr. Solidon is a team ministry member of the Cathedral Parish of the Nativity of Our Lady.
The title “Monsignor” is a bestowed on a diocesan priest who has distinguished himself by many years of exceptional service to the church or has provided a specific and specialized function in church governance.
It is also an honorary title and does not affect the priest’s duties or ministerial assignment.
All nominated monsignors are officially considered part of the papal household, whether they serve in the Vatican or elsewhere.
“In scaling back honorific positions within the Catholic Church in 2014, Pope Francis retained the category of ‘Chaplain to His Holiness” for any and all new nominated recipients,” said the diocese in a post on social media.
In keeping with the pope’s reforms, a “Chaplain to His Holiness” is only granted to a diocesan priest who is over 65 years of age.
