Pope appoints Fr. Dave Capucao, 59, as new bishop of Infanta

Fr. Dave Dean Capucao, 59, has been appointed as the new bishop for the Prelature of Infanta by Pope Leo XIV, marking the first Filipino appointment under this pope.

Capucao succeeds Bishop Bernardino Cortez, who retired in July 2024 at the age of 75 as required by ecclesiastical norms.

Ordained a priest for Infanta in 1994, Capucao served as founding pastor of a parish in Aurora province before pursuing higher education abroad and later became rector of Saint Joseph Formation House in Quezon City since 2015.

He earned master's and doctoral degrees in theology from Catholic universities in the Netherlands and Belgium respectively, contributing to research on religion and ethnocentrism.

The Prelature of Infanta covers northern Quezon province and Aurora, a territory 127 kilometers east of Manila with around 373,000 church members.

Capucao's appointment highlights his extensive experience both within and outside the country, making him well-prepared to face challenges such as poverty and natural calamities in the region.