Erik Tenedero

Archbishop Gilbert Garcera is new CBCP president

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Archbishop Gilbert Garcera is new CBCP president 

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<div><span class="fr-img-caption fr-fic fr-dib" style="width:960px;display:block" width="960"><span class="fr-img-wrap"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/176457062880720251201061216_105da70fdc5cbc5575901b83fd28b04a416fd8bbc87f3cc1eb6035d08957ec30.jpg" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" width="960"/><span class="fr-inner" style="text-align:left">Lipa Archbishop Gilbert Garcera has officially started his term as the president of the Catholic Bishops&#x27; Conference of the Philippines (CBCP). Photo from Archdiocese of Lipa via CBCP News </span></span></span></div><div><br/></div><p>MANILA — As the new liturgical year begins for the Catholic Church, so does the new ministry of Lipa Archbishop Gilbert Garcera.</p><p>The archbishop formally started his two-year term as president of the Catholic Bishops&#x27; Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) on December 1, 2025, succeeding Kalookan Bishop Pablo Virgilio Cardinal David.</p><p>As the president of the conference, the 66-year-old Garcera will be the face of over 80 bishops in the Philippines and the lead implementer of the decisions made by the collegial body.</p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2025/7/5/lipa-archbishop-gilbert-garcera-is-new-cbcp-president-1727">Lipa Archbishop Gilbert Garcera is new CBCP president </a></div><p>His election was a surprise.</p><p>Filipino bishops broke tradition when they elected Garcera instead of choosing their outgoing vice president, Pasig Bishop Mylo Hubert Vergara.</p><p>At least from 2011, when Archbishop Jose Palma was elected president up to Cardinal David&#x27;s term, all CBCP head previously served as vice president.</p><div><br/></div><div><strong>&#x27;PRAY FOR ME&#x27;</strong></div><div><br/></div><p>&quot;Ipagdasal po ninyo sapagkat napakabigat ng krus na nakapatong sa akin. Sama-sama po tayo, tulong-tulong, magdarasal po tayo upang ang kalooban ng Diyos ay mapasaatin,&quot; Garcera said in a <a href="https://www.facebook.com/watch/?v=1252821739813343">video </a>released by the Church-run Radyo Veritas.</p><p>Garcera began his episcopal ministry as bishop of Daet in 2007.</p><p>In 2017, Pope Francis picked him to lead 3.3 million Catholics in the Archdiocese of Lipa, succeeding Archbishop Ramon Arguelles.</p><p>The ecclesiastical territory of Lipa covers the civil provinces of Batangas, Quezon, Marinduque, and Aurora and is composed of 66 parishes.</p><p>Garcera is not new to the CBCP even before he was bishop.</p><p>As priest, he worked as assistant secretary general and as executive secretary of the Episcopal Commission on Mission.</p><p>Upon becoming bishop, he chaired the Episcopal Commission on Mission and the Episcopal Commission on Family and Life.</p><p>He was also a member of the CBCP Permanent Council as regional representative for Southeast Luzon.</p><p>Born in Magarao, Camarines Sur, Garcera earned his Bachelor of Philosophy and Bachelor of Sacred Theology at the Holy Rosary Major Seminary under the Archdiocese of Caceres.</p><p>He finished his masteral in Religious Studies at the Ateneo De Manila University and earned his Doctor of Philosophy in Organization Development at the Southeast Asia Interdisciplinary Development Institute.</p><div><br/></div><div><strong>A SYNODAL BISHOP</strong></div><div><br/></div><p>True to being a &quot;Pope Francis bishop,&quot; the pontiff who appointed him archbishop, Garcera has shown commitment to synodality.</p><p>In 2024, in time for his pastoral visit to 66 parishes under his care, the Archdiocese of Lipa<a href="https://cbcpnews.net/cbcpnews/lipa-archdiocese-launches-synodal-book/]"> published a book </a>that offered insights to the &quot;transformative impact of synodality.&quot;</p><p>&quot;This really is a synodal book,&quot; Garcera said during the launch of the book &quot;Enlarging the Space of Our Tent&quot; at the National Shrine of Saint Padre Pio in Batangas.</p><p>&quot;And in this book you&#x27;ll see communion and participation in response to the mission.&quot;</p><p>The book presented perspectives from bishops, priests, farmers, young people, and many others.</p><p>In the same year, &quot;as a humble contribution to the Second Session of the 16th Ordinary General Assembly of the Synod of Bishops in Rome,&quot; Garcera also launched a pastoral workshop on synodality</p><p>&quot;We are all called to respond to this collective discernment and to once again contribute to the further enrichment and maturation of the Church&#x27;s synodal reflections,&quot; Garcera said.</p><div><br/></div><div><span class="fr-img-caption fr-fic fr-dib" style="width:960px;display:block" width="960"><span class="fr-img-wrap"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/176457068384720251201061216_0362691c6609d54c6045cbf59ad8bc89b986fb320417344afc9177e0bc17b928.jpg" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" width="960"/><span class="fr-inner" style="text-align:left">Lipa Archbishop Gilbert Garcera during a book launch in 2024. Photo from CBCP News</span></span></span></div><div><br/></div><p>Synodality was one of the major themes of Francis&#x27;s papacy, where he envisioned a Church that is more open to others&#x27; perspectives to various issues confronting Catholics and the rest of the world.</p><p>Francis led two Synods on Synodality, in 2023 and 2024. It was the culmination of years of meetings and consultations down to parish and diocesan levels.</p><p>During a visit to the Vatican, a photo of Garcera and Pope Francis went viral, which saw the pontiff laughing while seated in a wheelchair.</p><p>The archbishop and the clergy of Lipa were in the Vatican at that time for their retreat.</p><p>&quot;I made Pope Francis laugh inspite of all the problems of the whole world,&quot; Garcera said.</p><p>Meanwhile, the archbishop also <a href="https://cbcpnews.net/cbcpnews/archbishop-urges-pastoral-sensitivity-toward-persons-with-same-sex-attraction/">called for &quot;pastoral sensitivity&quot;</a> in accompanying persons with same-sex attractions.</p><p>Emphasizing that they are not outsiders in the Catholic Church, Garcera said that the Church must meet  persons with same sex attractions &quot;as a loving mother and faithful teacher.&quot;</p><p>The prelate also did not shy away from sharing his vulnerability, when he publicly told his near-death experience battling COVID-19 in 2022.</p><p>&quot;I was agonizing to breathe, hindi po ako makahinga sapagkat since may tube ang aking biibig, ang aking lalamunan punong-puno ng laway at I was really gasping for air,&quot; he said.</p><p>&quot;Alam ninyo, I prayed to my guardian angel, sabi ko wala akong ibang matawagan ngayon, pwede ba guardian angel, pwede bang tawagin ninyo ang guardian angel ng nurse na nasa labas, sabihin ninyo kung pwede i-suction ang aking laway sapagkat napakahirap po basta intubated ka. Napakahirap.&quot;</p><div><br/></div><div><strong>AT THE HELM OF CBCP</strong></div><div><br/></div><p>As CBCP president, Garcera will have to confront mounting tension in Philippine politics.</p><p>This year, the CBCP led the Trillion Peso March to denounce massive corruption involving government infrastructure projects.</p><p>The clash of two of the most powerful political families in the Philippines—the Marcoses and the Dutertes —also brought further polarization among Filipinos.</p><p>There&#x27;s also the mounting effect of climate change in the country, as shown by severe flooding and monstrous storms lashing through every year.</p><p>Like his predecessors, Garcera is also expected to provide a moral voice as the CBCP remains at the forefront of confronting these conflicts and challenges.</p><p>Along with Garcera, Archbishop Julius Tonel of Zamboanga also started his term as CBCP president.</p><p>The 10 regional representatives of the Permanent Council also officially assumed their respective posts:</p><div><br/></div><div><strong>Luzon</strong></div><div><br/></div><p>• Nueva Segovia Archbishop-designate David William</p><p>• Tarlac Bishop Roberto Mallari</p><p>• Cubao Bishop Elias Ayuban </p><p>• Gumaca Bishop Euginius Canete</p><p>• Daet Bishop Herman Abcede</p><div><br/></div><div><strong>Visayas</strong></div><div><strong> </strong></div><p>• San Jose de Antique Bishop Marvyn Maceda</p><p>• Calbayog Bishop Isabelo Abarquez</p><div><br/></div><div><strong>Mindanao</strong></div><div><strong> </strong></div><p>• Butuan Bishop Cosme Almedilla </p><p>• Kidapawan Bishop Jose Colin Bagaforo</p><p>• Ipil Bishop Glenn Corsiga </p><div><br/></div><p>The term of the CBCP&#x27;s new officials will end on November 30, 2027. </p><div><br/></div><div><strong>RELATED VIDEO</strong></div><div><br/></div><div><span class="fr-video fr-deletable fr-fvc fr-dvb fr-draggable" contenteditable="false" draggable="true"><iframe width="640" height="360" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/0Rbwzy-8UK0?&amp;wmode=opaque&amp;rel=0" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen="" class="fr-draggable"></iframe></span><br/></div>

<p>As the president of the conference, the 66-year-old Garcera will be the face of over 80 bishops in the Philippines and the lead implementer of the decisions made by the collegial body.</p>

As the president of the conference, the 66-year-old Garcera will be the face of over 80 bishops in the Philippines and the lead implementer of the decisions made by the collegial body.

Who is Archbishop Garcera, the new CBCP president?

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Who is Archbishop Garcera, the new CBCP president?

Erik Tenedero,

ABS-CBN News

Published Dec 01, 2025 02:44 PM PHT

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Archbishop Gilbert Garcera

Archdiocese of Lipa

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Catholic Church in the Philippines

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