Filipino priest becomes Australia's first bishop

Bishop Rene Ramirez, a 55-year-old priest from Nueva Ecija, has become Australia's first Filipino bishop.

He was consecrated as an auxiliary bishop for the Archdiocese of Melbourne on February 1.

Pope Francis appointed Ramirez and Vietnamese-born Bishop Thinh Nguyen as auxiliary bishops of Melbourne.

Ramirez and Nguyen were ordained at St. Patrick's Cathedral by Archbishop Peter Comensoli, with Bishop Gregory Bennet and Bishop Shane Mackinlay as co-consecrators.

The ordination ceremony was attended by around 3,000 people, including Cardinal Mykola Bychok, Apostolic Nuncio Archbishop Charles Balvo, and 32 other bishops.

Over 200 priests from Australia, Rome, the Philippines, the United States, and Vietnam also participated in the Mass.

The Melbourne archdiocese now has four auxiliary bishops to share leadership duties for its four regions.

Archbishop Comensoli encouraged the new bishops to be devoted witnesses of the Lord's resurrection and to embrace their roles with confidence and faith.