Fifty Years a Priest: Archbishop Valles Marks His Golden Jubilee

Most Rev. Romulo G. Valles, D.D., Archbishop of Davao, celebrated his 50th sacerdotal anniversary with a Thanksgiving Mass at San Pedro Cathedral on April 10, 2026, at 9:00 a.m.

Archbishop Valles was ordained a priest on April 6, 1976, for what was then the Diocese of Tagum. He was later appointed Bishop of Kidapawan in 1997, named Archbishop of Zamboanga in 2006, and transferred to Davao in 2012. From 2017 to 2021 he served as President of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines.

The Apostolic Nuncio, Archbishop Charles Brown, joined cardinals, bishops, priests, religious, and lay faithful from across the country for the celebration. In a message for the occasion, Pope Leo XIV commended the Archbishop’s “long and dedicated pastoral ministry” and his service in fostering unity and peace.

The parish of San Pedro Cathedral joins the whole Archdiocese in giving thanks for fifty years of priestly service.