Resignation of auxiliary of Salzburg, Austria

Resignation of bishop of Naval, Philippines, and appointment of successor

Appointment of relator of the Congregation for the Causes of Saints

Resignation of auxiliary of Salzburg, Austria

The Holy Father has accepted the resignation of H.E. Msgr. Andreas Laun, O.S.F.S., from the office of auxiliary of the diocese of Salzburg, Austria.

Resignation of bishop of Naval, Philippines, and appointment of successor

The Holy Father has accepted the resignation from the pastoral care of the diocese of Naval, Philippines, presented by H.E. Rev. Msgr. Filomeno Bactol.

The Holy Father has appointed as bishop of Naval, Philippines, the Rev. Msgr. Rex C. Ramirez, of the clergy of the archdiocese of Palo, currently vicar general of the same archdiocese.

H.E. Msgr. Rex C. Ramirez

H.E. Msgr. Rex C. Ramirez was born in Balangiga, Ester Samar, in the archdiocese of Palo, on 15 December 1967. After high school and courses in philosophy at the Sacred Heart Seminary of Palo, he studied theology at the Loyola School of Theology at Manila University.

He was ordained a priest for the archdiocese of Palo on 27 March 1995, then carrying out for the first two years of his ministry the service of special secretary to the archbishop.

In the years 1997-2007 he studied in Rome at the Pontifical St. Anselm Athenaeum, obtaining a licentiate in liturgy and beginning his doctoral studies. During the same decade he exercised his pastoral ministry first with the Filipino community in the parish of San Leone Magno in Rome (1998-2002), and then as resident chaplain in the House of spiritual exercises of the Suore Missionarie del Sacro Costato in Rome and chaplain of the Filipino community of La Storta in the diocese of Porto-Santa Rufina.

Upon returning to his homeland, he served as professor and spiritual director at the Saint John the Evangelist School of Theology in Palo (2007-2014), also holding the offices of coordinator of the lay apostolate in the east district of the archdiocese, coordinator of the archdiocesan liturgical Commission and member of the presbyteral Council. In 2013 he became Rector of the Sacred Heart Seminary of Palo. In 2014 he became rector of the Metropolitan Cathedral and vicar general of the archdiocese.

Appointment of relator of the Congregation for the Causes of Saints

The Holy Father has appointed as Relator of the Congregation for the Causes of Saints Rev. Msgr. José Jaime Brosel Gavilá, of the clergy of the archdiocese of Valencia, currently official of the Dicastery for Promoting Integral Human Development.