A delegation of Dumaguetenos led by Mayor Manuel Sagarbarria attended the formal installation of Archbishop John Du as Archbishop of the Metropolitan of Palo last May 9.
News reports from Tacloban say Archbishop Du’s installation drew the biggest attendance in the history of installations in the archdiocese.
Politicians in the province of Leyte put aside their enmity as they and the other faithful attended the formal acceptance of Archbishop Du as the region’s top spiritual leader.
Papal Nuncio Giuseppe Pinto, formally installed Archbishop Du to his new position.
The rite was witnessed by church princes, Gaudencio Cardinal Rosales, archbishop emeritus of Manila; Ricardo Cardinal Vidal, archbishop emeritus of Cebu and Du’s predecessors-Archbishop Pedro Dean and Jose Palma, now the archbishop of Cebu.
Also in attendance were Archbishop Luis Antonio Tagle of Manila; Locrates Villegas of Lingayen; about 60 bishops from the various dioceses of the country; Du’s family members and relatives; and priests from his former assignment in Dumaguete.
Father Amadeo Alvero, media coordinator of the archdiocese said that the installation of Archbishop Du, which gathered the biggest attendance perhaps indicates the importance of his position not only as an Archbishop of Palo but also to the Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) as well. Archbishop Du will now serve as the leader of the more than 1.4 million Catholic faithful in the province whose jurisdiction also covers the suffragan dioceses of Borongan, Calbayug, Naval, and Catarman.
It was learned that Pope Benedict XVI named Archbishop Du to his new post in February 25, this year. (with a report from PIA Tacloban)
