José S. Palma

Not to be confused with José Palma, the 19th century lyricist of the Philippine National Anthem.
In this Filipino name, the middle name or maternal family name is Serofia and the surname or paternal family name is Palma.

His Excellency, The Most Reverend

José Serofia Palma

D.D., S.Th.D.
Archbishop Emeritus of Cebu
Archbishop José S. Palma in 2023
ChurchLatin Church
ProvinceCebu
SeeCebu
AppointedOctober 15, 2010
InstalledJanuary 13, 2011
RetiredJuly 16, 2025
PredecessorRicardo Vidal
SuccessorAlberto S. Uy
Previous posts
  • Bishop of Calbayog (1999–2006)
  • Metropolitan Archbishop of Palo (2006–2010)
Orders
OrdinationAugust 21, 1976
by Alberto Jover Piamonte
ConsecrationJanuary 13, 1998
by Gian Vincenzo Moreni
Personal details
BornJosé Serofia Palma
(1950-03-19) March 19, 1950
Dingle, Iloilo, Philippines
NationalityFilipino
DenominationCatholicism
Alma materSt. Vincent Ferrer Seminary
St. Joseph Regional Seminary
Pontifical and Royal University of Santo Tomas
Pontifical University of Saint Thomas Aquinas
MottoNon nobis Domine
(Latin for 'Not to us O Lord')[a]
SignatureJosé Serofia Palma's signature
Coat of armsJosé Serofia Palma's coat of arms
Ordination history
History
Priestly ordination
Ordained byAlberto Jover Piamonte
DateAugust 21, 1976
Episcopal consecration
Principal consecratorGian Vincenzo Moreni
Co-consecrators
  • Alberto Jover Piamonte
  • Fernando Capalla
DateJanuary 13, 1998
PlaceJaro Cathedral
Episcopal succession
Bishops consecrated by José S. Palma as principal consecrator
Patrick Daniel Y. ParconAugust 22, 2014
Dennis C. VillarojoAugust 10, 2015
Ruben C. LabajoAugust 19, 2022
Styles of
José S. Palma
Reference styleThe Most Reverend
Spoken styleYour Excellency
Religious styleArchbishop, Monsignor

José Serofia Palma (born March 19, 1950) is a Filipino prelate who served as Metropolitan Archbishop of Cebu from 2011 to 2025.[1][2] He had previously served as Metropolitan Archbishop of Palo in Leyte from 2006 to 2010, and as president of the Catholic Bishops' Conference of the Philippines from 2011 to 2013.

Early life

Palma was born in Dingle, Iloilo, in the Archdiocese of Jaro. He studied philosophy at St. Vincent Ferrer Seminary and theological studies at the St. Joseph Regional Seminary. He received his licentiate in Sacred Theology at the Pontifical and Royal University of Santo Tomas in Manila, and was ordained a priest for the Archdiocese of Jaro on August 21, 1976.[3]

Palma earned a doctorate from the Pontifical University of Saint Thomas, Angelicum in Rome in 1987 with a dissertation entitled Death as an Act: A Dialogue in Eschatology with Contemporary Theologians.

Priesthood

After a year as assistant priest at the Jaro Cathedral, he taught at his alma mater, St. Vincent Ferrer Seminary. After his studies in Rome, he became rector of the seminary until he was appointed rector of the major seminary of the Metropolitan Province of Jaro-the St. Joseph Regional Seminary, in 1988. Meanwhile, he also held various positions in several diocesan commissions. In 1997 he was made parish priest of the Parish of St Anthony of Padua in Barotac Nuevo, Iloilo (Archdiocese of Jaro). On November 28, 1997, Pope John Paul II appointed him Titular Bishop of Vazari Diddi and Auxiliary Bishop of Cebu. He was consecrated on January 13, 1998. Exactly a year later, he was made Bishop-Ordinary of the See of Calbayog.

As metropolitan archbishop

Metropolitan Archbishop of Palo

On March 18, 2006, Palma was appointed Metropolitan Archbishop of Palo by Pope Benedict XVI, succeeding Archbishop-Emeritus Pedro R. Dean.

Metropolitan Archbishop of Cebu

On October 15, 2010, he was appointed Metropolitan Archbishop of Cebu, replacing Cardinal Ricardo Vidal, who had been archbishop for 29 years. He was installed on January 13, 2011, at the Cebu Metropolitan Cathedral.[4] He served as vice-president of the Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines from December 1, 2009, until July 11, 2011, on which he was elected president.

In 2018, he was received into the Priestly Fraternity of Saint Dominic, a Third Order under the Order of Preachers.[5]

Pope Francis named him a member of the Pontifical Council for Culture on November 11, 2019.[6]

In December 2024, Archbishop Palma suspended indefinitely the celebration of Traditional Tridentine Mass (TLM) in the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Cebu until further notice.[7]

After 14 years of leading the Archdiocese of Cebu, Pope Leo XIV accepted his retirement at the age of 75 (the mandatory retirement age for bishops) on July 16, 2025, and appointed Alberto Uy, Bishop of Tagbilaran, as his successor.[8]

Notes

References

  1. ^ "Archbishop Palma Joins Dominican Order". CBCPNews. January 26, 2018. Retrieved March 11, 2022.
  2. ^ "Rinuncia dell'Arcivescovo Metropolita di Cebu (Filippine) e Nomina del Successore". press.catholica.va (in Italian). October 15, 2010. Archived from the original on July 28, 2011.
  3. ^ "Metropolitan Archdiocese of Cebu, Philippines". GCatholic.org. Retrieved May 26, 2022.
  4. ^ Parco, Bernadette A.; Vestil, Justin K. (January 13, 2011). "Joy and Sadness Greet Changing of the Guard". Sun.Star Cebu. Archived from the original on March 19, 2012. Retrieved January 14, 2011.
  5. ^ "Archbishop Palma joins Dominican Order". CBCPNews. January 26, 2018. Retrieved January 18, 2022.
  6. ^ "Resignations and Appointments, 11.11.2019" (Press release). Holy See Press Office. November 11, 2019. Retrieved November 11, 2019.
  7. ^ Limpag, Max (December 4, 2024). "Cebu Archbishop Palma suspends Traditional Latin Mass". Rappler. Retrieved December 8, 2024.
  8. ^ Lagarde, Roy (July 16, 2025). "Pope names new Cebu archbishop". CBCP News. Retrieved July 16, 2025.
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