MANILA, Oct. 30, 2012— Pope Benedict XVI has appointed Bishop Rodolfo Beltran of the Apostolic Vicariate of Bontoc-Lagawe as the new head of the Diocese of San Fernando in La Union.
The 63-year old bishop’s appointment was made public in the Vatican on Tuesday, October 30, at 12 noon (7pm Manila time).
Bishop Rodolfo Beltran
The San Fernando diocese has been without a prelate for nearly a year after Bishop Artemio Rillera, a missionary from the Society of the Divine Word, passed away last November 2011.
Beltran was born on Nov. 13, 1948 in Gattaran, Cagayan. He was ordained a priest on March 25, 1976 in Gattaran, Cagayan as well.
On March 18, 2006, Pope Benedict XVI appointed him Vicar Apostolic of Bontoc-Lagawe. He was ordained bishop on May 16, 2006 at St. Peter’s Cathedral, Tuguegarao, Cagayan.
He was formally installed Apostolic Vicar of Bontoc-Lagawe, which covers two civil provinces of Ifugao and the Mountain Province, on May 29, 2006.
No date has been set for the installation of Beltran as the fifth bishop of San Fernando. (RL/CBCPNews)
