The Vatican announced today that Pope Benedict XVI has appointed Father Miguel Angel Olaverri Arroniz, S.D.B. as bishop of the Diocese of Pointe-Noire. Bishop-elect Olaverri was serving as the Apostolic Administrator of the same diocese.
A native of Pamplona, Spain, Fr. Olaverri was sent by the Salesians to Africa in 1976 after his ordination. He went on to teach Spanish in Brazzaville for 16 years before serving two terms as the Superior of the Salesian Province of Central Africa.
The Diocese of Pointe-Noire has an estimated 1 million Catholics in a population of just over 2 million. They are served by 43 priests and some 61 religious.
