POPE Francis has named Bishop Roberto Mallari as the new head of the Diocese of Tarlac, a 61-year-old diocese with over 1.2 million Catholics and approximately 60 parishes. The announcement was made from Rome on Sunday at 7 p.m. Manila time.
Bishop Mallari succeeds the late Bishop Enrique Macaraeg, who passed away in October 2023. He has been serving as the bishop of San Jose, Nueva Ecija, since July 2012.
Born in Masantol, Pampanga, Bishop Mallari has an extensive background in theology and pastoral work. He completed his seminary training at San Carlos Seminary in Makati City and holds a master’s degree in spirituality from the Priests School for Asia in Tagaytay City. He furthered his studies at the School for Priests in Florence, Italy.
Ordained as a priest for the Archdiocese of San Fernando on November 27, 1982, Mallari began his clerical journey as a spiritual director at the Mother of Good Counsel Seminary in Pampanga. He later served as executive secretary of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines’ (CBCP) Episcopal Commission on Family and Life from 2000 to 2006.
In January 2006, Pope Benedict XVI appointed him auxiliary bishop of San Fernando, and he was ordained as a bishop on March 27, 2006. He was subsequently named bishop of San Jose in May 2012.
Bishop Mallari has held several leadership roles, including vice chairman of the CBCP’s Episcopal Commission on Family and Life, chairman of the Episcopal Commission on Catechesis and Catholic Education, and chairman of the Office of Social Communications under the Federation of Asian Bishops’ Conferences.
As he assumes leadership of the Diocese of Tarlac, Bishop Mallari brings decades of pastoral experience and a deep commitment to serving the Catholic faithful in his new role.