Pope Francis appoints new bishop of Laguna's San Pablo diocese

MANILA – Pope Francis has appointed Marcelino Antonio Maralit Jr. as the new bishop of the City of San Pablo in Laguna province.

The Catholic Bishops' Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) news website reported that the appointment was announced in Rome, Italy at noontime on Saturday (6 p.m., PH time).

Maralit, 55, will assume the post that has been vacant since September 2023, following the resignation of Bishop Buenaventura Famadico for health reasons.

Pasig Bishop Mylo Hubert Vergara was designated as apostolic administrator of the diocese after Famadico's resignation.

The bishop of Boac, Marinduque prior to his appointment, Maralit completed his philosophical studies at St. Francis de Sales Major Seminary in his hometown of Lipa City, Batangas. He also earned his licentiate in Sacred Theology at the Universidad de Navarra in Pamplona, Spain.

"Umaapela ang simbahan sa lahat ng mga mananampalataya, lalo na sa Diyosesis ng Boac, na ipagdasal si Bishop Maralit para sa kanyang bagong pagkakatalaga at pinaalalahanan ang kongregasyon na laging isaisip at isapuso ang kabutihan ng simbahan (The Church is appealing to the faithful, especially those from the Diocese of Boac, to pray for Bishop Maralit on his appointment and reminds the congregation to always think of the greater good of the Church)," the Diocese of Boac said in a statement, as posted by Marinduque News.

He was ordained for the Archdiocese of Lipa on March 13, 1995.

He then attended the Pontifical University of the Holy Cross in Rome, where he obtained a licentiate in Church History.

In December 2014, Pope Francis appointed him Boac bishop.

He was ordained to the episcopate on March 13, 2015 and installed as Boac bishop four days later.

Maralit is also the current chair of the CBCP's Episcopal Commission on Social Communications. (PNA)