Filipino bishop resigns before retirement age

Manila, Philippines, Nov 21, 2007 / 10:35 am

A second bishop in the Philippines has resigned this year before the retirement age of 75.

Pope Benedict XVI accepted the resignation of Bishop Nestor Carino of Legazpi on November 7.

The apostolic nuncio to the Philippines, Archbishop Edward Joseph Adams, said the resignation of Bishop Carino, 69, was made under the canon law that states that a bishop who becomes unsuited for official duties due to illness or other grave reason is "earnestly requested" to tender his resignation to the Pope.

In July, the Pope also accepted the resignation of Bishop Jesus Cabrera of Alaminos under the same section of canon law. Bishop Cabrera is 66.

Auxiliary Bishop Lucilo Quiambao of Legazpi, a former secretary of the Catholic Bishops' Conference of the Philippines, will serve as apostolic administrator of the diocese of Legazpi, which contains more than one million Catholics.  

There are four Philippine bishops older than 75 whose resignations have not yet been accepted by the Pope.  There are now 98 active bishops among approximately 130 members of the Catholic Bishops' Conference of the Philippines.  Seven bishops have been appointed this year.