POPE Francis has appointed Ipil Bishop Julius Tonel as archbishop of Zamboanga, ending a 16-month absence of a pastor in the archdiocese.
Tonel, 66, has been serving as Ipil bishop since August 2010.
“The Holy Father has appointed Bishop Julius Sullan Tonel as metropolitan archbishop of Zamboanga, Philippines, transferring him from the Diocese of Ipil,” said the Vatican in a statement Tuesday night.
There are still five vacant Sees in the Philippines. These are the Diocese of Alaminos (since October 2019), Apostolic Vicariate of Calapan (November 2022), Diocese of Baguio (March 2023), Diocese of Gumaca (March 2023), and Diocese of Ipil (April 2023).
Tonel succeeds Archbishop Romulo de la Cruz who died from an illness at the age of 74 on Dec. 10, 2021.
After De la Cruz’ death, Zamboanga Auxiliary Bishop Moises Cuevas was named apostolic administrator of the archdiocese.
Tonel was born in Davao City in August 1956. He was ordained priest in April 1980. He holds a licentiate degree in Liturgical Theology from the Pontifical Institute of Sacred Liturgy in Rome.
He served as the vicar general and rector of Saint Francis Xavier Regional Major Seminary of Mindanao.
Tonel was appointed bishop of Ipil in June 2007. Ipil was then a prelature.
He eventually served as first bishop of Ipil when it became a diocese in May 2010.
