Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) Elects a New President and Leadership



The Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) elected a new president on July 5, 2025. Cardinal Pablo Virgilio David ends his second and final two-year term as the leader of the bishops’ conference.
Archbishop Gilbert Garcera of Lipa, was elected to head the CBCP from December 1, 2025, to November 30, 2027, a two-year term that could be renewed for another term.
Archbishop Garcera, age 66, is the head of 3.3 million Catholics of the Archdiocese of Lipa since 2017. Prio to this, he was bishop of the smaller Diocese of Daet from 2007 to 2017, and was made a bishop by Pope Benedict XVI.
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He was also formerly the chair of the CBCP Commission on Family and Life, in a country where divorce is illegal.
The election of the new leaders of the bishops' conference occurred during the CBCP’s 130th plenary assembly in Anda, Bohol, central Philippines.
For this plenary assembly, Pope Leo XIV sent a message to the CBCP via the Vatican’s secretary of state, Cardinal Pietro Parolin. The pope visited the Philippines nine times when he was Father Robert Prevost.
He encouraged them to draw strength from the current Jubilee year, calling it a time “to invite everyone to an intense experience of the love of God that awakens in hearts the sure hope of salvation in Christ.”
“Be courageous in supporting the cause of peace and in promoting the intrinsic dignity of all people,” read the message conveyed through Vatican Secretary of State Cardinal Pietro Parolin.

The pontiff also expressed confidence that the local churches in the Philippines will continue to serve as “tangible signs of hope” for the nation.

The message was read to the assembly on Saturday, the first of the three-day meeting, by Archbishop Charles Brown, the apostolic nuncio to the Philippines.

The CBCP meeting, held twice a year in January and July, brings together bishops from across the country to reflect on pastoral priorities and address national issues from a Catholic perspective.

More than 80 bishops are gathered in Anda, a town under the Diocese of Talibon, for their 130th plenary assembly — the highest decision-making body of the CBCP.

The conference currently has 126 members, including 87 active bishops, 38 honorary or retired bishops, and three diocesan priest-administrators.The Philippines, is a country of over 85 million Catholics; the new leaders’ period in office will also cover the preparations for the May 2028 national elections, where Vice President Sara Duterte is considered a top contender to succeed President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.

Vice-President Duterte, the daughter of former president Rodrigo Duterte, has impeachment complaint against her that is pending at the Senate. Her father, meanwhile, is detained at the International Criminal Court in The Hague over alleged crimes against humanity in his drug war that killed thousands.

The Catholic Church is one of the most powerful voices against the Duterte drug war killings and in support of the legal process behind the Vice President’s impeachment.
Sources: https://cbcpnews.net/cbcpnews/pope-leo-xiv-urges-filipino-bishops-to-promote-peace-uphold-human-dignity/

https://cruxnow.com/church-in-asia/2025/07/filipino-bishops-elect-new-head-as-cardinal-david-wraps-up-term

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