By Helen Castaño | 07:28 PM July 16, 2025
TAGBILARAN CITY, BOHOL — Pope Leo XIV has appointed Bishop Alberto “Abet” Uy of Tagbilaran as the new Archbishop of Cebu, succeeding Archbishop Jose Palma, whose resignation was accepted by the Vatican on Wednesday.
According to CBCP News, Archbishop Palma reached the mandatory retirement age of 75 on March 19, in accordance with Canon Law. He served as the Archbishop of Cebu for nearly 14 years.
At 58, Bishop Uy becomes the fifth Archbishop of Cebu, one of the oldest and most prominent ecclesiastical territories in the country. Widely regarded as the cradle of Christianity in the Philippines, the Archdiocese of Cebu ministers to more than 4.7 million Catholics across over 170 parishes.
A native of Ubay, Bohol, Uy began his seminary formation at the Immaculate Heart of Mary Seminary in Tagbilaran City and pursued theological studies at the St. John Mary Vianney Theological Seminary in Cagayan de Oro City, where he also earned a master’s degree in pastoral ministry.
He was ordained a priest for the Diocese of Talibon in 1993 and served in both pastoral and administrative capacities. Uy furthered his theological education with a licentiate from the Loyola School of Theology in Quezon City and a doctorate in sacred theology from the Pontifical Gregorian University in Rome, which he completed between 2002 and 2006.
On October 13, 2016, Pope Francis appointed Uy as Bishop of Tagbilaran. He was consecrated on January 5, 2017, at the Blessed Trinity Cathedral in Talibon and formally installed as the seventh bishop of the Diocese of Tagbilaran the following day at the Cathedral of St. Joseph the Worker. He succeeded Bishop Leonardo Y. Medroso upon his retirement.
As of 2023, the Archdiocese of Cebu is served by 375 diocesan clergy and 278 religious priests, making it one of the most active and expansive Catholic jurisdictions in the country.
Details of Archbishop-designate Uy’s formal installation are expected to be announced in the coming days.
