Resignation and appointment of bishop of León, Spain
The Holy Father has accepted the resignation from the pastoral care of the diocese of León, Spain, presented by Bishop Julián López Martín.
The Holy Father has appointed Bishop Luis Ángel de las Heras Berzal, C.M.F., of Mondoñedo-Ferrol as bishop of the diocese of León.
Bishop Luis Ángel de las Heras Berzal, C.M.F., was born in Segovia on 14 June 1963. In 1981 he entered the Claretian noviciate and gave his religious vows on 26 April 1986, the year in which he was awarded a degree in ecclesiastical studies. He studied the science of education at Comillas Pontifical University, and at the same time was responsible for youth pastoral care for the Claretian province of Castilla.
He was ordained a priest on 29 October 1988.
He dedicated himself to parish ministry with adolescents, young people at risk, marginalized, and drug addicts. He was a formator of postulants, superior and master of novices, provincial vicar, and prefect of major seminarians. In the years 2004-2007, he was delegate of the superior for formation in the Claretian Confederation of Aragón, Castilla y León. In 2007 he was elected prefect of spirituality and formation. From 2007 to 2012 he was provincial vicar, prefect of students and postulants, and professor at the Theological Institute of Religious Life and the Regina Apostolorum School in Madrid. He was also provincial superior of the Claretian Missionaries of the Province of Santiago and president of the Spanish Confederation of Religious (CONFER) (2012-2016).
On 16 March 2016, he was appointed bishop of Mondoñedo-Ferrol and was consecrated the following 7 May. He is a member of the Permanent Commission of the EEC and president of the Episcopal Commission for Consecrated Life.
Appointment of metropolitan archbishop of Brasilia, Brazil
The Holy Father has appointed Bishop Paulo Cezar Costa as metropolitan archbishop of the archdiocese of Brasilia, Brazil, transferring him from the diocese of São Carlos.
Curriculum vitae
Bishop Paulo Cezar Costa was born on 20 July 1967 in Valença, in the diocese of the same name. He carried out his studies in philosophy in the Nossa Senhora do Amor Divino in Petrópolis and in theology in the Superior Institute of Theology of the archdiocese of São Sebastião do Rio de Janeiro. He then obtained a licentiate and doctorate in dogmatic theology at the Pontifical Gregorian University of Rome (1996-2001).
He received priestly ordination on 5 December 1992 and was incardinated in the diocese of Valença.
During his priestly ministry, he carried out the following tasks: parish vicar in Paraíba do Sul (1993); parish priest of the São Sebastião dos Ferreiros parish in Vassouras (1994-1996), parish priest of the Santa Rosa de Lima parish in Valença (2001-2006); director and professor of the department of theology at the Pontifical Catholic University of Rio de Janeiro (2007-2010); rector of the Paulo VI Interdiocesan Seminary and director of the Paulo VI Institute of Philosophy and Theology in Nova Iguaçu (2006-2010). On 24 November 2010 he was appointed as titular bishop of Esco and auxiliary of the metropolitan archdiocese of São Sebastião do Rio de Janeiro. He received episcopal ordination on 5 February 2011. On 22 June 2016, he was transferred as bishop of São Carlos.
Within the Brazilian Episcopal Conference, he is a member of the Permanent Council and of the Episcopal Commission for Culture and Education. He is also a member of the Pontifical Council for Christian Unity and of the Pontifical Commission for Latin America.
Appointment of bishop of Barreiras, Brazil
The Holy Father has appointed Bishop Moacir Silva Arantes as bishop of the diocese of Barreiras, Brazil, transferring him from the titular see of Tituli in Numidia and the office of auxiliary of the metropolitan archdiocese of Goiânia.
Curriculum vitae
Bishop Moacir Silva Arantes was born on 3 June 1969 in Itapecerica, diocese of Divinópolis, in the State of Minas Gerais. He studied philosophy and theology at the Pontifical Catholic University of Minas Gerais in Belo Horizonte.
He received priestly ordination on 14 August 1999 and was incardinated in the diocese of Divinópolis, where he held the following positions: parish vicar; parish administrator; parish priest; rector of the major seminary and the preparatory seminary; spiritual director of the Theology Seminary; diocesan counselor for vocations, youth, and family pastoral care; representative of priests; member of the presbyteral council, the diocesan pastoral council, and the diocesan formation council.
Within the Brazilian Episcopal Conference, he has served as counselor for family pastoral care for the Regionale Leste 2 (2011-2015) and national counselor of the Pastoral Episcopal Commission for Life and the Family.
On 11 May 2016, he was appointed as titular bishop of Tituli in Numidia and auxiliary of the metropolitan archdiocese of Goiânia, receiving episcopal ordination the following 13 August.
He is currently secretary of the Regionale Centro-Oeste of the Brazilian Episcopal Conference.
