The Roman Catholic Diocese of Legazpi (Latin: Dioecesis Legazpiensis) is a diocese of the Latin Church of the Roman Catholic Church. It constitutes the entire province of Albay in the Philippines. The diocese was erected in 1951, carved from territory of the Archdiocese of Cáceres, to which it is a suffragan. In 1974, the diocese was partitioned to form the Diocese of Virac. Most Rev. Joel "Bong" Z. Baylon, D.D. is the current Bishop of Legazpi, after serving as Bishop of Masbate. Prior to his appointment, Auxiliary Bishop of Legazpi Lucilo Quiambao had been the apostolic administrator of the diocese since Bishop Nestor Cariño's retirement in 2007. Baylon is assisted by his vicars-general, Ramón Tronqued, PC VG and Crispin Bernarte, VG.

Coat of arms

The Mayon Volcano which towers over the city of Legazpi occupies the center of the shield. The papal cross surmounted by the nimbed dove symbolizes Saint Gregory the Great, the titular of the cathedral. The dove is an allusion to the testimony of Peter the Deacon who said that he oftentimes saw the Holy Ghost in the form of a dove hover above the saint while he dictated his works. The rose symbolizes Our Lady of Peñafrancia to whom all Bicolanos have a great devotion. The lily at the base represents the Immaculate Conception, the patroness of the principal church of Virac, Catanduanes in Catanduanes which belongs to the diocese (until 1974).

Activism

Bishop Joel "Bong" Z. Baylon, D.D., in his open letter to the present Administration, censured the governments's environmental protection failure resulting in massive urban flooding in Albay. The Legaspi Diocese traced its causes to unregulated greed of private individuals, illegal quarry, substandard public infrastructure and ineffective flood protection projects.

Bishops

Ordinaries

Auxiliary Bishops

Other priest of this diocese who became bishop