The archbishop will succeed Cardinal Ricardo Vidal, 79, who submitted his resignation for reasons of age.
José Serofia Palma was born in Dingle, Philippines, which is located in the Archdiocese of Jaro. Palma was ordained a priest of that archdiocese in 1976.
In 1997, he was named auxiliary bishop of Cebu, and in 1999 was named bishop of Calbayog. In 2006, he was named archbishop of Palo.
In 2009, Archbishop Palma was elected vice president of the Episcopal Conference of the Philippines.
The archdiocese counts with 3.6 million Catholics out of a total population of 4 million. There are 760 priests and 1,373 religious.
