Resignation of the archbishop of Maringá, Brazil, and appointment of apostolic administrator
The Holy Father has accepted the resignation from the pastoral care of the archdiocese of Maringá, Brazil, presented by Archbishop Anuar Battisti, and has appointed Bishop João Mamede Filho, O.F.M. Conv., of Umuarama, as apostolic administrator sede vacante of the same archdiocese.
Appointment of the bishop of Limeira, Brazil
The Holy Father has appointed as bishop of Limeira, Brazil, Bishop José Roberto Fortes Palau, transferring him from the titular see of Acufida and the office of auxiliary of São Paulo.
Bishop José Roberto Fortes Palau was born on 9 April 1965 in Jacareí, diocese of São José dos Campos, in the State of São Paulo. He studied philosophy at the Santa Teresinha Institute of Philosophy in São José dos Campos (1987-1988) and theology at the Sagrado Coração de Jesus Theological Institute in Taubaté (1989-1992). He was then awarded a licentiate in spiritual theology at the Pontifical Faculty of Theology “Teresianum” in Rome (1994-1996) and a doctorate in theology at the Pontifical Catholic University of Rio de Janeiro (2003-2007).
He was ordained a priest on 6 February 1993 and incardinated in the diocese of São José dos Campos. In the diocesan see, he served as parish vicar of in the parishes of Sant’Ana (1993) and São Bento (2004-2009), and as parish priest of the parishes of São José (1997-2000) and Santo Agostinho (2010-2014). In addition, he has held the positions of coordinator of Priestly Pastoral Care (1998-2001); rector of the theology seminary (2000-2009); director of the diaconal school (2005-2011); director and professor of the Catholic Faculty of São José dos Campos (2008-2014); member of the presbyteral council and the college of consultors; and vicar general (2005-2013). He has also served as a professor of spiritual theology at the Sagrado Coração de Jesus Theological Institute in Taubaté (2000-2003).
On 30 April 2014, he was appointed as titular bishop of Acufida and auxiliary of São Paulo. He received episcopal ordination on the following 21 June. In the archdiocese, he was episcopal vicar for the Ipiranga Episcopal Region.
Appointment of the bishop of Palayamkottai, India
The Holy Father has appointed as bishop of the diocese of Palayamkottai, India, the Reverend Antonysamy Savarimuthu, of the clergy of the same diocese, currently a professor at Saint Peter’s Seminary in Bangalore.
The Reverend Antonysamy Savarimuthu was born on 8 December 1960, in Vadakku Vandaman, diocese of Palayamkottai. He entered the minor seminary of Madurai, before continuing his philosophical and theological studies in Bangalore (1979-1987). He obtained a bachelor’s degree in philosophy and theology, a master’s degree in English literature and a doctorate in canon law from the Institut Catholique in Paris, France.
He was ordained a priest on 26 April 1987 for the diocese of Palayamkottai.
Since ordination, he has held the following positions: secretary to the bishop (1987-1989); lecturer at the minor seminary of Madurai (1989-1992); studies for the doctorate in canon law in Paris (1992-2001); visiting professor at the Bangalore Seminary (2001-2010); rector of the Christ Hall Seminary (Philosophy) in Madurai (2001-2004); vicar general (2004-2011); pastor of the Infant Jesus Shrine in Shantinagar (2004-2005); rector of the Shrine of Saint Judas in Maharajanagar (2005-2009); rector of Saint Mary’s Seminary and director of the Vocations Centre (2009-2011); and since 2011, resident lecturer at Saint Peter’s Seminary in Bangalore.
