Archbishop Gilbert Garcera of Lipa, Batangas was elected as the new president of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) during the bishops’ 130th plenary assembly held in Bohol, July 5.
Succeeding Cardinal Pablo “Ambo” Virgilio David, Bishop of Kalookan, whose second and final term ends in November, Garcera will officially assume the position on December 1. He is set to lead the bishops’ collegial body for the next two years with a possibility of re-election for one more term.
Now 66, Garcera has represented Southeast Luzon in the CBCP Permanent Council while serving as the archbishop of Lipa to a population of more than 3.3 million Catholics. Prior to his appointment to Lipa in 2017, he was the ordained bishop of Daet in 2007.
Earlier in his priesthood, he also held leadership roles within the CBCP as assistant secretary general and executive secretary of the Episcopal Commission on Mission. He later chaired the same commission, as well as the Commission on Family and Life from 2017 to 2021.
On the regional level, he worked with the Federation of Asian Bishops’ Conferences as chairman of its Office on Laity and Family, and served as director of the yearly Synodal Leadership for Asian Bishops Seminar.
Known for his family-centered values, having been appointed to the Vatican’s Synod on the Family in 2014, Garcera has previously opposed the legalization of divorce in the country.
“Children deserve a home where love, faithfulness, and forgiveness reign. In particular, they don’t want to see their parents quit because there are difficulties in their relationship,” he said in a 2018 pastoral message delivered at the Lipa Cathedral.
As of writing, Garcera has not issued an official statement following his election.
Outgoing CBCP President Cardinal David is widely known for his pastoral leadership, advocacy for the poor, and engagement with socio-political concerns. Under his leadership, the CBCP reiterated its collective opposition to the proposed divorce law in 2024, citing concerns about its impact on Filipino families and children.
