Pope Leo XIV appoints a Mindanao-born Church leader to head the Archdiocese of Davao, succeeding Archbishop Romulo Valles after 14 years.
DAVAO CITY (November 9) — The Archdiocese of Davao will have a new shepherd with a deep connection to Mindanao’s Catholic institutions as Pope Leo XIV appointed Bishop Abel Apigo of Mati as its fifth archbishop on Monday, November 9.
The appointment brings Apigo back to the ecclesiastical province where he spent much of his priestly life, from serving at San Pedro Cathedral to teaching and eventually leading St. Francis Xavier Regional Major Seminary of Mindanao (SFX-REMASE).
He succeeds Archbishop Romulo Valles, whose resignation was accepted by the pope on the same day. Valles, who turned 75 in July, reached the mandatory retirement age for bishops.
His departure closes a nearly 14-year tenure marked by his leadership of one of Mindanao’s major Catholic archdioceses and his involvement in national Church affairs.
For Davao’s Catholic community, Apigo’s appointment represents both a homecoming and a new chapter in the leadership of an archdiocese serving a diverse population across urban communities, rural parishes and vulnerable sectors.
A priest formed in Davao
Before becoming a bishop, Apigo built his ministry around priestly formation, theological education and Church administration.
He studied philosophy and theology at SFX-REMASE before being ordained a priest for the Archdiocese of Davao on April 18, 1994.
His early ministry included serving as parish vicar at San Pedro Cathedral from 1994 to 1996. He later pursued advanced studies in Rome, earning a licentiate in Church history from the Pontifical Gregorian University in 2000.
Upon returning to Davao, he joined the faculty of SFX-REMASE, where he took on several responsibilities as professor, vice rector and dean.
He became rector of the seminary in 2006, overseeing an institution central to the formation of priests serving Mindanao and neighboring areas.
In 2014, he was appointed episcopal vicar for the clergy of the Archdiocese of Davao, further strengthening his involvement in the formation and pastoral leadership of priests.
His appointment as bishop of Mati came on February 10, 2018, when Pope Francis named him to lead the diocese.
Apigo was ordained bishop on April 24 that year and installed as Mati’s second bishop the following day.
A new chapter after Valles
Apigo takes over from Valles, who has served the Davao archdiocese for approximately 14 years.
Before becoming archbishop of Davao, Valles led the Diocese of Kidapawan from 1997 to 2006 before being appointed archbishop of Zamboanga.
He was subsequently named archbishop of Davao and became one of the prominent figures in the Catholic Church’s national leadership.
From December 2017 to November 2021, he served as president of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines (CBCP).
In April this year, Valles marked the 50th anniversary of his priestly ordination, celebrating five decades of service to the Church.
His resignation, submitted upon reaching the canonical retirement age, formally ends his leadership of the Davao archdiocese.
The challenges ahead
Apigo’s appointment comes at a time when the Church continues to face significant pastoral and social responsibilities, including poverty, family concerns, the protection of children and vulnerable persons, interfaith relations and the changing needs of younger generations.
His experience in seminary formation and clergy administration provides a foundation for leadership, but his new assignment will also require engagement with communities beyond Church institutions.
For the Archdiocese of Davao, the transition offers an opportunity to strengthen the Church’s presence in communities where social inequalities, family vulnerabilities and demands for accountability require sustained pastoral attention.
The archbishop’s role extends beyond administering parishes and overseeing Church activities. It also involves guiding the local Church in its engagement with public concerns, promoting dialogue and ensuring that its mission remains responsive to the people it serves.
No date has yet been announced for Apigo’s installation as the fifth archbishop of Davao.
His appointment, however, signals the beginning of a new leadership chapter for the archdiocese—one led by a bishop whose priestly formation and ministry were shaped in the very Church community he is now called to shepherd.
