Gerard Francisco Timoner III

Gerard Francisco Parco Timoner III (born 26 January 1968) is a Filipino Catholic priest who has served as the 88th Master of the Order of Preachers, better known as the Dominicans, since 13 July 2019. He is the first Asian to hold the position.

Timoner is also a professor of theology at the University of Santo Tomas in Manila and since 2014 a member of the International Theological Commission.

Early life and education Gerard Francisco P. Timoner III was born on 26 January 1968 in Daet, Camarines Norte, Philippines to Francisco Timoner Jr. and Lilia Parco. He attended the Augustinian-administered La Consolacion College – Daet, graduating first honors from grade school in 1981, and as high school valedictorian in 1985. He obtained his licentiate in philosophy at the Philippine Dominican Center for International Studies in 1991 and a licentiate in theology at the University of Santo Tomas in 1994. His brother, Ronald Anthony, is a bishop who, during his priesthood, served in the Diocese of Daet as its vicar general and diocesan administrator before being appointed as Bishop of Pagadian.

Vocation Timoner was ordained a priest in 1995. He earned additional degrees in sacred theology and intercultural theology at the Catholic University of Nijmegen in 2004. He is the fourth Filipino to have that distinction.

He was Prior Provincial of the Dominican Province of the Philippines and then Socius of the Master for Asia-Pacific before being elected Master of the Order on 13 July 2019. As the head of the Dominicans, he is also the ex officio Grand Chancellor of the Pontifical University of St. Thomas Aquinas.