Pope Francis names new bishop of Novaliches

MANILA, Philippines — Pope Francis appointed a 57-year-old Manila priest as the new bishop of the Diocese of Novaliches, the Vatican announced on Thursday.

Fr. Roberto Gaa is set to replace Bishop Antonio Tobias, 77.

According to CBCPNews, the official news service provider of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines, the pontiff accepted the resignation of Tobias as he is past the retirement age of 75.

Under the Canon Law, bishop must submit their resignation to the pope when they reach 75. 

Tobias has served as Novaliches bishop since 2003.

Gaa will be the third bishop to head the Novaliches diocese after Tobias and Teodoro Bacani.

The diocese of Novaliches covers 69 parishes in the northern parts of Quezon City and Caloocan with around two million Catholics.

Prior to his appointment, Gaa served as rector of the Holy Apostles Senior Seminary in Makati in 2008.

Born in 1962, Gaa was ordained priest of the Manila archdiocese in 2000.

He holds a licentiate in spirituality from the Pontifical Gregorian University in Rome.