Pope Francis has appointed Carmelite Fr. Henricus Pidyarto Gunawan as bishop of Malang, Indonesia.
The 60-year-old was born in Malang, Indonesia, in 1955, gave his religious vows in 1981 and was ordained a priest in 1982.
He holds a licentiate in Sacred Scripture from the Pontifical Biblicum Institute, Rome, and a degree in biblical theology from the Pontifical University of St. Thomas Aquinas (Angelicum), Rome.
He succeeds Bishop Joseph Sahadat Pandoyoputro, O. Carm., whose resignation from the pastoral care of the same diocese upon reaching the age limit was accepted by the Holy Father.
The Diocese of Malang has a population of some 16.3 million people, with around 83,000 Catholics. They are served by some 145 priests and 1,200 religious.
Japan
The Pope also appointed Fr. Alexis Mitsuru Shirahama of the Society of Priests of St. Sulpice as bishop of Hiroshima, Japan.
The 54-year-old was born in Kamigoto, Japan, in 1962 and was ordained a priest in 1990. He holds a Bachelor’s degree in philosophy from the Keio University of Tokyo, Japan, and a licentiate in liturgy from the Institut Catholique de Paris, France. He is currently rector of the National Catholic Seminary of Japan in Fukuoka.
The Diocese of Hiroshima has a population of some 7.6 million with about 21,000 Catholics. They are served by some 60 priests and 245 religious.
