Chancery Office,
Jose Villafuerte Street, Ipil,
7001 Zamboanga Sibugay, Philippines
Phone: (062)992-7667 Fax :993-2668
Pope Francis appointed Bishop Julius Sullan Tonel as metropolitan archbishop of Zamboanga on April 25, 2023.
Bishop Tonel was born in Davao City on Aug. 31, 1956. After his studies in Davao and Manila, he was ordained a priest for the archdiocese of Davao on April 12, 1980.
He served as parish vicar and director of the family apostolate and later obtained a licentiate in liturgical theology from the Pontifical Saint Anselm Athenaeum in Rome (1986-1990).
Later, Bishop Tonel served as director of the archdiocesan liturgical center and vice rector, professor, and spiritual director of the Major Regional Seminary of Davao (1992-1997). He became its rector in 1997.
From 2002 to 2007, he was parish priest and vicar general of the archdiocese of Davao. On June 30, 2007, he was appointed bishop of Ipil.
Bishop Tonel has also chaired the Episcopal Commission for Healthcare of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines.
