Pope Leo XIV has appointed Filipino priest Nelson Po as auxiliary bishop of the Archdiocese of Perth in Western Australia, according to the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines (CBCP).
Bishop-elect Po, 57, will assist Archbishop Timothy John Costelloe in the pastoral care of the archdiocese, working alongside Auxiliary Bishop Donald George Sproxton.
Po said his appointment came as a “big surprise,” describing it as overwhelming and surreal, while expressing trust that God’s strength would guide him in his new role.
Archbishop Costelloe praised Po for his pastoral sensitivity, love for the Church and its liturgy, and generosity in taking on responsibilities beyond parish duties.
Po, a native of Palompon, Leyte, is the second Filipino bishop in Australia after Auxiliary Bishop Rene Ramirez of Melbourne, appointed in 2024, and was ordained to the priesthood in 2005.
