Pope Leo XIV Makes Move in Cebu W/ New Church Leader
CEBU – The Catholic Church in the Philippines enters a new era as Bishop Alberto Uy is officially named the next archbishop of Cebu.
In a notable move for the Catholic Church in the Philippines, Pope Leo XIV has designated Bishop Alberto Uy of Tagbilaran as the next archbishop of Cebu. This is the pontiff’s second episcopal appointment in the country.
Bishop Uy replaces Archbishop Jose Palma, whose resignation was accepted after he reached the mandatory retirement age of 75 on March 19. Palma had led the Archdiocese of Cebu for almost 14 years.
Now 58 years old, Bishop Uy becomes the fifth person to hold the title of Archbishop of Cebu—one of the largest and most important archdioceses in the nation. A native of Ubay, Bohol, Uy has a strong academic and pastoral background. He studied philosophy at the Immaculate Heart of Mary Seminary in Tagbilaran and earned a master’s degree in pastoral ministry after completing theology at St. John Mary Vianney Theological Seminary in Cagayan de Oro.
He was ordained a priest in 1993 for the Diocese of Talibon, where he served in multiple roles. He went on to earn a licentiate in sacred theology from the Loyola School of Theology in Quezon City and later obtained his doctorate in sacred theology from the Pontifical Gregorian University in Rome between 2002 and 2006.
Uy’s journey as a bishop began when Pope Francis appointed him to lead the Diocese of Tagbilaran in October 2016. He officially assumed the post on January 6, 2017, following his episcopal ordination.
The Archdiocese of Cebu—often called the “cradle of Christianity in the Philippines”—is home to around 4.7 million Catholics and includes more than 170 parishes. As of 2023, it was supported by 375 diocesan priests and 278 priests from religious orders.
Bishop Uy’s elevation to archbishop is seen as a promising step for the local Church, with hopes that he will bring renewed spiritual leadership and vigor to the Cebuano Catholic community.
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