Pope Francis names new Jolo bishop

MANILA, Philippines — Pope Francis has appointed a new bishop for the vicariate apostolic of Jolo, Sulu.

The appointment of Fr. Charlie Inzon as apostolic vicar of the Jolo Vicariate was announced by Pope Francis on Saturday, according to the CBCPNews, the official publication of the Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines.

Before his appointment, Inzon had been serving as provincial superior of the Oblates of Mary Immaculate (OMI) since 2018.

Jolo has been without a bishop for 14 months.

The 54-year-old Inzon replaced Bishop Angelito Lampon, who was appointed archbishop of the Archdiocese of Cotabato in January last year. 

Another OMI priest, Fr. Romel Saniel, served as acting administrator of the Jolo Vicariate before Inzon’s appointment.

An apostolic vicariate is a local church that has yet to be established as a diocese. 

Inzon was born in Putiao, Sorsogon on Nov. 24, 1965. He studied philosophy at the Notre Dame University in Cotabato City and theology at the Ateneo De Manila University.

He was ordained on April 24, 1993.