Pope François © L'Osservatore Romano

Pope Francis © Vatican Media

Pope Makes Several Episcopal Appointments

Latin America, Africa, Poland

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Resignation of archbishop of Juba, South Sudan, and appointment of new metropolitan archbishop

The Holy Father has accepted the resignation from the pastoral care of the archdiocese of Juba, South Sudan, presented by Archbishop Paulino Lukudu Loro, M.C.C.J., at the same time appointing Bishop Stephen Ameyu Martin Mulla of Torit as archbishop of the same metropolitan see.

Resignation of bishop of Socorro y San Gil, Colombia, and appointment of successor

The Holy Father has accepted the resignation from the pastoral care of the diocese of Socorro y San Gil, Colombia, presented by Bishop Carlos Germán Mesa Ruiz.

The Pope has appointed as bishop of Socorro y San Gil, Colombia, the Reverend Luis Augusto Campos Flórez, of the clergy of the archdiocese of Bogotá, Colombia, currently episcopal vicar of the archdiocesan zone of the Holy Spirit,

The bishop elect was born in Bogotá on 23 August 1958. He completed his philosophical and theological studies at the San José major seminary in Bogotá. He obtained a licentiate in philosophy from the Pontifical Gregorian University in Rome, and studied for a doctorate in philosophy at the Institut Catholique in Paris.

He was ordained to the priesthood on 8 December 1982, and incardinated in the archdiocese of Bogotá.

He subsequently held the following positions: parish vicar in Soacha, parish administrator of San Francisco de Paula, formator and professor at the San José major seminary in Bogotá, rector of the San José major seminary in Bogotá, parish priest of San Tarcisio and, since 2011, episcopal vicar of the archdiocesan zone of the Holy Spirit.

Resignation of bishop of Impfondo, Republic of the Congo, and appointment of successor

The Holy Father has accepted the resignation from the pastoral care of the diocese of Impfondo, Republic of the Congo, presented by Bishop Jean Gardin, C.S.Sp.

The Pope has appointed the Reverend Daniel Nzika, of the clergy of Ouesso, currently vicar general, as bishop of the same diocese.

The bishop-elect was born in Ouesso on 16 February 1971. He attended the minor seminary of Makoua (1992-1995), hosted by the Community of the Beatitudes of Blagnac. He studied philosophy and theology at the Catholic University of Toulouse (1995-2000). He was ordained a priest on 9 December 2000.

Since priestly ordination he has held the following roles: parish vicar in the Saint Michel in Pokola (2000-2002); parish priest and spiritual director of the preparatory seminary (2003-2010); and parish priest of the Saint Pierre Claver Cathedral of Ouesso (2010-2012), and vicar general of the diocese (2010-2012). From 2012 to 2015 he carried out his studies for a licentiate in dogmatic theology at the Institut Catholique d’Angers; and has served as vicar general again since 2016.

Appointment of bishop of Kafanchan, Nigeria

The Holy Father has appointed as bishop of the diocese of Kafanchan, Nigeria, the Reverend Julius Yakubu Kundi, of the clergy of Zaria, formerly parish priest of Saint John in Muchia.

The Reverend Julius Yakubu Kundi was born on 15 February 1968 in Danladi, in the present diocese of Zariah. After his primary and secondary school studies, he studied at Kafanchan Teachers’ College (1985-1987). After becoming a seminarian, he completed his philosophical studies at the Saint Thomas Aquinas Major Seminary in Makurdi (1988-1991) and his theological studies at Saint Augustine’s Major Seminary in Jos (1992-1996). Later he studied at the Catholic Institute of West Africa (2003-2006), obtaining a licentiate in moral theology. He was ordained a priest on 14 June 1997 for the clergy of Kaduna. With the erection of the diocese of Zaria on 5 December 2000, he opted for the new diocese.

Since ordination he has held the following positions: parish vicar of Saint Andrew in Kakuri, archdiocese of Kaduna (1997-1998); parish priest of Saint Paul in the diocese of Jalingo, as priest fidei donum (1998-2003); higher studies in Port Harcourt (2003-2006); parish priest of Saint Enda in Bassawa Zaria (2006-2007); vice-rector of Saint Joseph’s minor seminary in Bassawa Zaria (2006-2007); administrator of the Cathedral of Christ the King in Zaria (2007-2010); treasurer of the diocese of Zaria (2007-2010); vicar general of the diocese of Zaria (2009-2010); vice-rector and formator in the Good Shepherd Major Seminary in Kaduna (2010-2014); acting rector of the Good Shepherd Major Seminary in Kaduna (2014-2016); acting chaplain of the Zaria Police Corps (2016-2017); parish priest of Saint John in Muchia (2017-2018); and since 2018, parish vicar of Our Lady of the Lake parish in Lake Havasu City, diocese of Phoenix, United States of America (for one sabbatical year).

Appointment of bishop of Ibarra, Ecuador

The Holy Father has appointed Bishop Segundo René Coba Galarza, military ordinary of Ecuador, as bishop of Ibarra, Ecuador.

Bishop Segundo René Coba Galarza was born in Quito on 26 September 1957 and was ordained a priest on 3 July 1982 for the archdiocese of Quito. At the Pontifical Catholic University of Ecuador he obtained a licentiate in pastoral theology.

During his priestly ministry he has served as pastor, vicar general and executive secretary of the Episcopal Commission for Clergy and Consecrated Life of the Episcopal Conference of Ecuador.

On 11 August 2006 he was elected titular bishop of Vegesela in Byzacena and auxiliary of Quito, and on 18 June 2014 he was appointed as military ordinary for Ecuador. He is currently secretary general of the Ecuadorian Episcopal Conference.

Appointment of auxiliary of Huari, Peru

The Holy Father has appointed as titular bishop of Isola and auxiliary of the diocese of Huari, Peru, the Reverend Giorgio Barbetta, of the clergy of the diocese of Gubbio, Italy, fidei donum in the diocese of Huari and rector of the Señor de Pomallucay Seminary.

The bishop-elect was born on 1 September 1971 in the province of Sondrio, Italy, and was ordained a priest on 20 September 1998, after his formation in the Pius XI Pontifical Regional Seminary of Assisi, and was incardinated in the diocese of Gubbio.

Since ordination, he has served as parish priest of Scheggia and Pascelupo in the diocese of Gubbio, Italy (1998-2000); parish priest of Piscobamba, diocese of Huari, Peru (2001-2002); and collaborator in the parish of Shilla, diocese of Huari, Peru (2003-2007).

Since 2007 he has served as rector of the Señor de Pomallucay diocesan seminary of Huari.

Appointment of auxiliary of the diocese of Ełk, Poland

The Holy Father has appointed as auxiliary bishop of the diocese of Ełk, Poland, the Reverend Fr. Adrian Józef Galbas, S.A.C., currently provincial of the province of Poznań of the Society of the Catholic Apostolate, assigning him the titular see of Naisso

The bishop-elect was born on 26 January 1968 in Bytom, in the archdiocese of Katowice. In 1987 he was admitted to the novitiate of the Society of the Catholic Apostolate. He later studied at the major seminary of the same Society in Ołtarzew, and on 10 September 1993 he gave his religious vows in Zakopane. He was ordained a priest on 7 May 1994 in Ołtarzew, for the Society of the Catholic Apostolate.

Since priestly ordination he has held the following offices: vicar in the parish of Saint Michael the Archangel in Łódź (1994-1995); student at the “John Paul II” Catholic University in Lublin, where he obtained a licentiate in pastoral theology (1995-1997); prefect of discipline at the major seminary of the Pallottines in Ołtarzew (1998-2002); provincial counsellor of the province of Poznań (2002-2005); secretary for the apostolate in the same province (2002-2003); parish priest of Saint Lawrence in Poznań (2003-2011) and at the same time confessor in the archdiocesan seminary of Poznań and in the seminary of the Resurrectionists in the same city.

In 2012 he was awarded a doctorate in spiritual theology from the Cardinal Stefan Wyszyński University in Warsaw. Since 2011, he has served as provincial of the province of Poznań of the Society of the Catholic Apostolate.

He speaks German, Italian, English, Spanish and Russian.

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