Lipa Archbishop Gilbert Garcera formally began his term on Monday as the new president of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines (CBCP), taking the helm of the country’s influential collegial body of bishops.
Garcera, elected to the post in July during the CBCP’s plenary assembly, succeeded Caloocan City Bishop Pablo Virgilio Cardinal David, who completed two consecutive terms as conference president marked by strong statements on social issues and the Church’s synodal preparations.
Garcera has led the Archdiocese of Lipa since 2017. Before his appointment to Lipa, he served as bishop of Daet starting in 2007, where he was known for strengthening diocesan formation programs and lay involvement.
Within the CBCP, Garcera previously headed the Commission on Mission and the Commission on Family and Life.
He is also recognized for his work in the broader Asian Church, having chaired the Federation of Asian Bishops’ Conferences’ Office on Laity and Family and served as director of the Synodal Leadership for Asian Bishops Seminar, which supports regional initiatives aligned with Pope Francis’ call for synodality.
As CBCP president, Garcera is expected to guide the bishops through ongoing synodal consultations, deepen pastoral priorities on family and youth, and reinforce the Church’s engagement on social concerns.
His leadership begins as the CBCP continues to address issues affecting communities nationwide, including poverty, migration, moral formation, and disaster response coordination with dioceses.
The CBCP elects its officers every two years. Garcera will serve a term alongside CBCP vice president Bishop Medardo Bagaforo, secretary-general Msgr. Bernardo Pantin, and other members of the conference’s permanent council.
