Pope Francis has appointed Bishop Roberto Mallarito fill the vacant diocese of Tarlac, according to the Catholic Bishops' Conference of the Philippines (CBCP).

In a statement Sunday, CBCP said Mallari will be the fourth bishop of the 61-year-old diocese, succeeding the late Bishop Enrique Macaraeg, who passed away in October last year.

His appointment was officially announced at noon in Rome, and 7 p.m. in the Philippines.

Mallari has led the Diocese of San Jose in Nueva Ecija for over a decade, beginning in July 2012.

He completed his major seminary formation 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 pursued further studies at the School for Priests in Florence, Italy.

Mallari was ordained a priest for the Archdiocese of San Fernando on 27 November 1982.

The Pampanga-born priest served as spiritual director at the Mother of Good Counsel Seminary in Pampanga from 1983 to 1987 and from 1989 to 1994. He also served as executive secretary of the CBCP Episcopal Commission on Family and Life from 2000 to 2006.

On 14 January 2006, Pope Benedict XVI appointed Mallari as auxiliary bishop of San Fernando, and he was ordained to the episcopate on 27 March 2006.