The Diocese of Baguio (Latin: Dioecesis Baghiopolitana) is a Latin Church of the Catholic Church in the Philippines comprising the city of Baguio and the province of Benguet on Luzon island in the Philippines. Its see is the Our Lady of Atonement Cathedral.
It was erected to a diocese in 2004 as a suffragan of the Archdiocese of Nueva Segovia. It is currently headed by the Most Rev. Rafael T. Cruz, the third bishop of Baguio, succeeding Victor Barnuevo Bendico, who was appointed archbishop of Capiz.
History
The diocese is one of the oldest ecclesiastical territories in the Philippines. It was established as the Apostolic Prefecture of Mountain Provinces (Latin: Praefectura Apostolica Montana) on July 15, 1932.Pope Pius XI, Apostolic Decree creating the Apostolic Prefecture of the Mountain Provinces Quo facilius consuli (July 15, 1932), Acta Apostolicae Sedis 25 (1933), pp. 206-207. DISMEMBRATIONIS DIOECESIS ET ERECTIONIS PRAELATURAE APOSTOLICAE "MONTANAE". The territory that the Diocese of Baguio now spans was split from the Archdiocese of Nueva Segovia.
On June 10, 1948, the apostolic prefecture was elevated to the Apostolic Vicariate of Mountain Provinces (Montañosa), entitling it to a titular bishop.Pope Pius XII, Apostolic Constitution elevating the Apostolic Prefecture of the Mountain Provinces into an Apostolic Vicariate Quo inter infideles (June 10, 1948), Acta Apostolicae Sedis 40 (1948), pp. 535-536. PRAEFECTURA APOSTOLICA MONTANA IN VICARIATUM APOSTOLICUM, IISDEM SERVATIS NOMINE AC LIMITIBUS, EVEHITUR. The apostolic vicariate received a papal visit from John Paul II in February 1981.
On July 26, 1992, the apostolic vicariate was renamed the Apostolic Vicariate of Baguio, after ceding territories to form the Apostolic Vicariate of Bontoc-Lagawe and the Apostolic Vicariate of Tabuk.
On June 24, 2004, the apostolic vicariate was elevated into the Diocese of Baguio, losing its missionary pre-diocesan status and becoming a suffragan of Archdiocese of Nueva Segovia.
On June 20, 2024, Rafael Tambao-An Cruz was announced as the next bishop, replacing then Bishop Victor Barnuevo Bendico, who was elevated as Archbishop of Capiz in May 2023. He was ordained on September 7 at Dagupan Cathedral by Archbishop Socrates Villegas of Lingayen-Dagupan as principal consecrator, with Archbishop Victor Barnuevo Bendico of Capiz and Bishop Jesse Mercado of Parañaque as co-consecrators. His installation took place on September 17, 2024, led by Archbishop Charles John Brown and Jose Cardinal Advincula of Manila at the Baguio Cathedral.
Ordinaries These ordinaries are all Latin Rite clergy, who are mostly members of missionary congregations.
No. Bishop Period in officeNotesCoat of arms Prefects apostolic of the Mountain Provinces (November 15, 1935 – June 10, 1948) 1 Giuseppe Billiet, C.I.C.M. November 15, 1935 – 1947( years) Died in office Vicars apostolic of the Mountain Provinces (June 10, 1948 – December 18, 1987) 1 William Brasseur, C.I.C.M. June 10, 1948 – November 7, 1981() Retired 2' Emiliano Kulhi Madangeng November 7, 1981 – December 18, 1987() Retired Vicars apostolic of Baguio (December 18, 1987 – June 24, 2004) 3 Ernesto Antolin Salgado December 18, 1987 – December 7, 2000() Appointed bishop of Laoag 4 Carlito Joaquin Cenzon January 25, 2002 – June 24, 2004() Elevated as diocesan bishop Bishops of Baguio (June 24, 2004 – present) 1 Carlito Joaquin Cenzon June 24, 2004 – October 1, 2016() Retired 2 Victor Barnuevo Bendico January 10, 2017 – March 3, 2023() Appointed archbishop of Capiz 3 Rafael Tambaoan Cruz September 17, 2024 – present()
Coadjutor vicars apostolic
+ Coadjutor vicars apostolic of the Mountain Provinces/Baguio No. Portrait Name From Until Duration Notes 1 Emiliano K. Madangeng1927–1997 July 4, 1979 November 7, 1981 2 years, 4 months, 3 days Appointed vicar apostolic of Mountain Provinces. 2 Ernesto A. Salgado1936– October 17, 1986 December 18, 1987 1 year, 2 months, 1 day Appointed vicar apostolic of Baguio; later archbishop of Nueva Segovia.
Auxiliary bishops + Auxiliary bishops of the Mountain Provinces/Baguio No. Portrait Name From Until Duration Notes 1 Emiliano K. Madangeng1927–1997 April 24, 1971 July 4, 1979 8 years, 2 months, 10 days Appointed coadjutor vicar apostolic of Mountain Provinces. 2 Sebastian A. Dalis1925–2004 November 18, 1987 July 11, 2000 12 years, 7 months, 23 days Retired.
See also Catholic Church in the Philippines List of Catholic dioceses in the Philippines Our Lady of Covadonga
References
Sources and external links GCatholic with incumbent biography links Dioecesis Baghiopolitana Catholic-Hierarchy.org