Pope Francis appoints Dipolog bishop to oversee Iligan diocese

Following the death of Iligan Bishop Elenito Galido, Pope Francis has appointed another prelate to oversee the diocese that Galido left behind until a new bishop is elected.

The Pontiff named Dipolog Bishop Severo Caermare, 48, as the apostolic administrator of the Diocese of Iligan.

The appointment was made on December 6, a day after Galido passed away due to a lingering illness.

Caermare will oversee the Diocese of Iligan in an acting capacity until Pope Francis elects a new bishop to lead it.

Caermare was ordained at the age of 26 in 1996 and has been a priest for 21 years.

He was appointed Dipolog bishop in 2014, and holds a master’s degree in theology and pastoral ministry.

His appointment came after the 64-year-old Galido passed away due to liver cirrhosis at the Mercy Community Hospital in Iligan City last December 5.

Galido served the Diocese of Iligan for 11 years since he was named its bishop in 2006.

At the time of his death, he was the chairperson of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines’ Episcopal Commission on Culture.