Palo (Archdiocese) [Catholic-Hierarchy]

Bishop(s)

John Forrosuelo Du, Archbishop
Pedro Rosales Dean, Archbishop Emeritus

General Information

Type of Jurisdiction: Archdiocese
Elevated: 15 November 1982
Metropolitan See
Rite: Latin (or Roman)
Country: Philippines
Square Kilometers: 4,620 (1,784 Square Miles)
Description: Most of the province of Leyte
Official Web Site: https://archdioceseofpalo.org/
Mailing Address: Archdiocesan Chancery, 6501 Palo, Leyte; P.O. Box 173, 6500 Tacloban City, Leyte, Philippines
Telephone: (053)832-1587

Historical Details

Diocese of Palo
- Latin Name: Palensis
- Erected: 28 November 1937
- Metropolitan: Archdiocese of Cebu
- Country: Philippines

Past and Present Ordinaries

Manuel Mascariñas y Morgia † (16 Dec 1937 Appointed - 12 Nov 1951 Appointed, Bishop of Tagbilaran)
Lino Rasdesales Gonzaga † (12 Nov 1951 Appointed - 12 Aug 1966 Appointed, Archbishop of Zamboanga)
Teotimo Cruel Pacis, C.M. † (18 Nov 1966 Appointed - 23 May 1969 Appointed, Bishop of Legazpi)
Manuel Sandalo Salvador † (21 Oct 1969 Appointed - 25 Sep 1972 Resigned)
Cipriano Urgel y Villahermosa † (12 Apr 1973 Appointed - 22 Apr 1985 Died)
Pedro Rosales Dean (12 Oct 1985 Appointed - 18 Mar 2006 Retired)
Jose Serofia Palma (18 Mar 2006 Appointed - 15 Oct 2010 Appointed, Archbishop of Cebu)
John Forrosuelo Du (25 Feb 2012 Appointed - )

Historical Summary

Date	Event	From	To
Diocese of Palo
28 November 1937	Erected	Diocese of Calbayog (Leyte)	Diocese of Palo (erected)
23 March 1968	Territory Lost	Diocese of Palo	Diocese of Maasin (erected)
Archdiocese of Palo
15 November 1982	Elevated	Diocese of Palo	Archdiocese of Palo
29 November 1988	Territory Lost	Archdiocese of Palo	Diocese of Naval (erected)

Year Catholics Total Population Percent Catholic Diocesan Priests Religious Priests Total Priests Catholics Per Priest Permanent Deacons Male Religious Female Religious Parishes Source

Diocese of Palo

1949 970,890 1,000,000 97.1% 67 14 81 11,986 15 41 53 ap1951

1970 875,135 942,738 92.8% 77 28 105 8,334 32 65 46 ap1971

1980 973,282 1,020,857 95.3% 79 26 105 9,269 27 78 52 ap1981

Archdiocese of Palo

1990 1,690,860 1,820,440 92.9% 121 17 138 12,252 19 66 44 ap1991

1999 1,120,505 1,186,211 94.5% 128 9 137 8,178 9 94 49 ap2000

2000 1,120,505 1,186,211 94.5% 127 10 137 8,178 11 118 49 ap2001

2001 1,257,977 1,572,472 80.0% 119 9 128 9,827 10 119 49 ap2002

2002 1,257,977 1,572,472 80.0% 123 10 133 9,458 11 119 50 ap2003

2003 1,257,977 1,572,472 80.0% 127 15 142 8,858 17 125 50 ap2004

2004 1,257,977 1,572,472 80.0% 130 14 144 8,735 15 130 52 ap2005

2013 1,439,000 1,863,000 77.2% 137 26 163 8,828 36 162 65 ap2014

2016 1,422,219 1,567,984 90.7% 156 34 190 7,485 55 189 68 ap2017

2019 1,449,300 1,583,890 91.5% 157 32 189 7,668 42 161 70 ap2020

Year	Catholics	Total Population	Percent Catholic	Diocesan Priests	Religious Priests	Total Priests	Catholics Per Priest	Male Religious	Female Religious	Parishes	Source
Diocese of Palo
1949	970,890	1,000,000	97.1%	67	14	81	11,986	15	41	53	ap1951
1970	875,135	942,738	92.8%	77	28	105	8,334	32	65	46	ap1971
1980	973,282	1,020,857	95.3%	79	26	105	9,269	27	78	52	ap1981
Archdiocese of Palo
1990	1,690,860	1,820,440	92.9%	121	17	138	12,252	19	66	44	ap1991
1999	1,120,505	1,186,211	94.5%	128	9	137	8,178	9	94	49	ap2000
2000	1,120,505	1,186,211	94.5%	127	10	137	8,178	11	118	49	ap2001
2001	1,257,977	1,572,472	80.0%	119	9	128	9,827	10	119	49	ap2002
2002	1,257,977	1,572,472	80.0%	123	10	133	9,458	11	119	50	ap2003
2003	1,257,977	1,572,472	80.0%	127	15	142	8,858	17	125	50	ap2004
2004	1,257,977	1,572,472	80.0%	130	14	144	8,735	15	130	52	ap2005
2013	1,439,000	1,863,000	77.2%	137	26	163	8,828	36	162	65	ap2014
2016	1,422,219	1,567,984	90.7%	156	34	190	7,485	55	189	68	ap2017
2019	1,449,300	1,583,890	91.5%	157	32	189	7,668	42	161	70	ap2020

Note: Any changes in boundaries over time are not indicated in the above table.

Affiliated Bishops, Living

Isabelo Caiban Abarquez (Auxiliary Bishop: 19 Jun 2004 to 5 Jan 2007)
Filomeno Gonzales Bactol (Priest: 6 Apr 1968; Auxiliary Bishop: 29 Jul 1981 to 29 Nov 1988)
Pedro Rosales Dean (Archbishop: 12 Oct 1985 to 18 Mar 2006)
John Forrosuelo Du (Archbishop: 25 Feb 2012)
Oscar Jaime Llaneta Florencio (Priest: 3 Apr 1990 to 3 Jul 2015)
Marvyn Abrea Maceda
Leonardo Yuzon Medroso (Priest: 30 Mar 1963 to 18 Dec 1986)
Jose Serofia Palma (Archbishop: 18 Mar 2006 to 15 Oct 2010)
Rex Cullingham Ramirez (Priest: 27 Mar 1995 to 13 Oct 2017)

Affiliated Bishops, Deceased

Lino Rasdesales Gonzaga † (Bishop: 12 Nov 1951 to 12 Aug 1966)
Manuel Mascariñas y Morgia † (Bishop: 16 Dec 1937 to 12 Nov 1951)
Teotimo Cruel Pacis, C.M. † (Bishop: 18 Nov 1966 to 23 May 1969)
Manuel Sandalo Salvador † (Bishop: 21 Oct 1969 to 25 Sep 1972)
Cipriano Urgel y Villahermosa † (Priest: 17 Mar 1945 to 22 Mar 1962; Bishop: 12 Apr 1973; Archbishop: 15 Nov 1982 to 22 Apr 1985)

Archdiocese of Palo

Archidioecesis Palensis