Retired Antique bishop Raul Martirez dies at 86

MANILA, Philippines – Bishop Emeritus Raul Martirez, who led the Diocese of San Jose de Antique for nearly two decades, died at the age of 86.

The Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) announced on Tuesday, September 3, that Martirez died at 11:24 pm on Monday, September 2. The cause of his death was undisclosed.

Born on February 9, 1938, Martirez was ordained a priest in 1961 and a bishop in 1983. He served as bishop of San Jose de Antique, which covers the western portion of Panay Island, from 1983 to 2002.

He later became resident bishop of Christ the King Parish Greenmeadows, a posh subdivision in Quezon City. In a video tribute, the parish described Martirez as “this beloved bishop who was never short of warm hugs for everyone.”

“Christ the King Greenmeadows thanks the Lord for the gift of Bishop Raul. We fondly remember his warm smiles and loving words during his stay with our parish community,” the Quezon City parish said. 

Cubao Bishop Honesto Ongtioco, whose diocese includes Christ the King Greenmeadows, recalled on Tuesday how Martirez always smiled and “was friendly to everyone, very approachable, very fatherly.”

“My dear friends, I will always remember him for his genuine simplicity with which he lived his episcopal ministry There was nothing lavish about his lifestyle. He liked good, honest food, but not too fancy,” Ongtioco said during the Mass at the wake of Martirez.

“During his final days, when I visited and prayed for him in the hospital, I could not but think how he disposed himself throughout life,” he added. “I witnessed, that his faith in Christ was alive at the very core of his being.” – Rappler.com