Davao archbishop submits resignation to Pope

Citing his age, 75-year-old Archbishop Fernando Capalla of the Archdiocese of Davao, submitted his resignation to Pope Benedict XVI earlier this week. Capalla submitted his resignation letter on his birthday on Monday through papal nuncio Archbishop Edward Joseph Adams but said he may stay on until early 2011. “(Adams) clarified that the actual process of selection would start on the first semester of 2011 so until then I would still be your bishop," Capalla said in an article posted on the CBCP news site. Cappala served as the president of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) from 2003 to 2005. The CBCP said Capalla may still stay at the bishops’ residence along F. Torres Street in Davao City while the Pope searches for his replacement. Capalla said such resignation is not automatic as there would still be a process of finding his replacement. Until the Pope assigns another bishop to the archdiocese, the CBCP said Capalla will continue to fulfill the responsibilities of the post he has held for the past 14 years. “The good American monsignor (Adams) clarified that the actual process of selection would start on the first semester of 2011 so until then I would still be your bishop," Capalla said. Capalla is known for promoting inter-religious dialogue and peace in war-torn Mindanao. Among his achievements was the convening of the Bishops-Ulama Conference, a dialogue forum consisting of Mindanao Catholic prelates, Muslim religious leaders and Protestant bishops. In the spirit of interreligious dialogue, the religious leaders affirm their common commitment to the peace process in Southern Philippines. Born on November 1, 1934 in Leon, Iloilo, Capalla was ordained priest on March 18, 1961 at St. Elizabeth’s Cathedral in Jaro, Iloilo. In 1975, he was appointed Auxiliary Bishop of Davao by Pope Paul VI. In 1977, he was named Bishop of Iligan Diocese. In 1994, Capalla was transferred again to Davao where he served as Co-Adjutor Bishop before he was finally appointed as archbishop in 1996. He is presently a member of the Vatican-based Pontifical Council for Interreligious Dialogue since 1988. He is also an Honorary President of the World Conference on Religion and Peace. His campaign for peace has also earned him several national awards such as the San Lorenzo Ruiz Award for Peace and Unity in 1991, Public Service Award for Peace from the Ateneo de Manila University in 1998 and the Aurora Aragon Quezon Peace Award for this initiative in 2000. –VVP, GMANews.TV