Julio Xavier Labayen
Julio Xavier Labayen (23 July 1926 – 27 April 2016) was a Filipino prelate of the Catholic Church in the Philippines. Ordained to the priesthood in 1955 as Discalced Carmelite, he served as bishop and prelate of the Territorial Prelature of Infanta, Philippines from 1966 until 2003. He was among the first Filipino Discalced Carmelites in the 1950s. He was the first Filipino Discalced Carmelite bishop and the second bishop/prelate of Infanta.
The Most Reverend Julio Xavier Labayen | |
|---|---|
| Bishop, Prelate of Infanta | |
| Church | Catholic |
| See | Prelature of Infanta |
| Appointed | 26 July 1966 |
| Term ended | 28 June 2003 |
| Predecessor | Patrick Harmon Shanley |
| Successor | Rolando Tirona |
| Other post(s) | Prelate Emeritus of Infanta (2003–2016) |
| Orders | |
| Ordination | 4 June 1955 by Adeodato Giovanni Piazza |
| Consecration | 8 September 1966 by Rufino Jiao Santos |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 23 July 1926 Talisay City, Negros Occidental, Philippines |
| Died | 27 April 2016 (aged 89) |
| Previous post(s) | Titular bishop of Sinnuara (1966–1978) |
| Motto | Dominus est (Latin for 'It is the Lord' – John 21:7) |
| Coat of arms | |
He was a staunch defender of human rights, especially during the years of the Martial Law in the Philippines, being known to be one of the "Magnificent 7" who voiced their opposition to the Marcos regime. In recognition of his efforts against authoritarian rule, his name was inscribed on the Wall of Remembrance at the Bantayog ng mga Bayani in 2016.
Labayen also served in various capacities in promotion of the welfare and rights of the poor and the marginalized, primarily in his appointment as the first chair of the Catholic Bishops' Conference of the Philippines (CBCP)'s National Secretariat for Social Action-Justice and Peace (NASSA).