Sofronio Aguirre Bancud

Sofronio Aguirre Bancud (born December 8, 1948) is a Filipino bishop of the Roman Catholic Church who served as the Bishop of Cabanatuan from 2004 to 2024. He previously served as an auxiliary bishop of the same diocese from 2001 to 2004.

Early life and education Bancud was born on December 8, 1948, in Atulayan Norte, Tuguegarao City, Cagayan, to Antonio Bancud and Soledad Aguirre. He completed his elementary education at St. Paul University and his secondary studies at Cagayan State University, both located in Tuguegarao City. In 1969, he earned a Bachelor of Commerce degree from the University of Santo Tomas in Manila. He later joined the Congregation of the Blessed Sacrament and made his religious profession on December 9, 1972. He pursued theological studies at St. Francis Xavier Regional Seminary in Davao City, where he obtained a licentiate in Sacred Theology in 1977.

Following the death of Bishop Sofio G. Balce Jr., he was appointed Bishop of Cabanatuan on November 6, 2004, and installed on January 25, 2005, in solemn rites held at St. Nicholas of Tolentine Cathedral in Cabanatuan City. and represented Luzon Central in the CBCP Permanent Council from 2013 to 2015. From 2015 to 2021, he served as Chairman of the Episcopal Commission on Biblical Apostolate (ECBA), overseeing national biblical pastoral initiatives and Scripture engagement among dioceses.

On December 8, 2024, the second Sunday of Advent, Pope Francis accepted his resignation in accordance with canon law and appointed Prudencio Andaya Jr., Vicar Apostolic of Tabuk, as his successor.