Archbishop Jose Palma, of Cebu, Philippines Tests Positive for COVID along with Auxiliary Bishop Emeritus Rañola - Both are in Hospital



Archbishop Jose Palma, of Cebu, Philippines, is in hospital. He has tested positive with COVID-19.

Auxiliary Bishop Emeritus Antonio Rañola, the auxiliary emeritus has also tested positive. 
Archbishop Jose Palma of Cebu, 70, is showing moderate symptoms. The bishop heads the diocese of the second most important city in the Philippines and is being treated at the Perpetual Relief Hospital in Cebu.
“The archbishop remains in stable condition. Let us all pray for his steady and speedy recovery,” said spokesman Mgr Joseph Tan.
Bishop Emeritus Antonio Rañola, 88, who lives in the same residence as Archbishop Palma, also contracted the coronavirus and is hospitalised.
The disease struck the prelates just as Cebu was preparing to mark 500 years since the arrival of Christianity in the archipelago. 
The Philippine Church has already lost two bishops to the coronavirus: Archbishop Emeritus of Lingayen-Dagupan Oscar Cruz and Bishop Emeritus of Imus Manuel Cruz Sobreviñas.
Other bishops have contracted COVID-19 but they recovered: Apostolic Administrator of Manila Broderick Pabillo and Cardinal Luis Antonio Tagle, prefect of the Congregation for the Evangelisation of Peoples.
The Philippines is the second most affected country by COVID-19 in Southeast Asia, right after Indonesia. 
Edited from Asia NewsIT
Image Source: Wikimedia Commons

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