Resignation of bishop of Ijebu-Ode, Nigeria, and appointment of successor
Resignation of bishop of Tuticorin, India, and appointment of successor
Appointment of bishop of Mende, France
Resignation of bishop of Ijebu-Ode, Nigeria, and appointment of successor
The Holy Father has accepted the resignation from the pastoral care of the diocese of Ijebu-Ode, Nigeria, presented by H.E. Msgr. Albert Ayinde Fasina.
The Pope has appointed as bishop of the same see the Rev. Francis Obafemi Adesina, of the clergy of Osogbo, currently rector of the Seminary of Saints Peter and Paul in Ibadan.
Rev. Francis Obafemi Adesin
The Rev. Francis Obafemi Adesina was born in Wenchi, Ghana on 28 January 1964. He has Nigerian citizenship. He completed his studies in philosophy and theology at the Seminary of Saints Peter and Paul in Ibadan. He subsequently obtained a licentiate in biblical theology at the Pontifical Biblical Institute, and a doctorate from the Pontifical Urban University in Rome. He was ordained a priest on 14 October 1989 for the diocese of Oyo. He was then incardinated in the new diocese of Osogbo.
Since priestly ordination he has held the following offices: collaborate at the Saint Benedict Cathedral, diocese of Oyou (1989-1990); collaborator at Saint Mary, Ilesa (1990-1992); parish priest of Saint Augustine, Ipetumodu (1992-1994); chaplain of Renewal of the Spirit (1992-1996); director of the Pastoral Centre in the then-diocese of Oyo (1993-1995); diocesan coordinator of pastoral planning (1993-1996); chaplain of the Federal Polytechnic, Ede (1994-1996); diocesan secretary, diocese of Oyo (1994-1996); studies for the licentiate in biblical theology at the Pontifical Biblical Institute, Rome (1996-2000); parish of the cathedral of Saint Mary (2000-2002); formator in the Seminary of Saints Peter and Paul in Ibadan (2001-2009); director of Art & Culture (2002-2005); studies for the doctorate at the Pontifical Urban University, Rome (2005-2009); and dean of students in the Seminary of Saints Peter and Paul in Ibadan (2010-2013), Since 2013 he has served as rector of the Seminary of Saints Peter and Paul in Ibadan.
Resignation of bishop of Tuticorin, India, and appointment of successor
The Holy Father has accepted the resignation from the pastoral care of the diocese of Tuticorin, India, presented by H.E. Msgr. Yvon Ambroise.
The Pope has appointed Rev. Stephen Antony Pillai, of the clergy of Vellore, bishop of the same diocese, currently director of the diocesan Retreat Centre and teacher at Saint Paul’s Seminary in Tiruchirapalli.
Rev. Stephen Antony Pillai
The Rev. Stephen Antony Pillai was born on 22 June 1952 at Keezha Manakudy, diocese of Kottar. He studied philosophy at Santhome Minor Seminary, Chennai, and Arul Anandar College, Madurai, and theology at Saint Paul’s Seminary in Tiruchirapalli. He obtained a masters’ degree in theology from the Saint Peter’s Pontifical Seminary in Bangalore and a PhD in biblical theology from the Pontifical Urban University in Rome.
Since his priestly ordination on 7 May 1979, for the diocese of Vellore, he has held the following positions: parish vicar of the Our Lady of Lourdes Sanctuary in Chetpet (1979-1980); parish vicar of the Sacred Heart Church in Polur (1980-1981); studies for masters’ degree in theology at the Saint Peter’s Pontifical Seminary in Bangalore (1981-1983); parish priest of the Our Lady of Fatima Church in Thachambadi (1983-1986); studies for the doctorate in biblical theology in Rome (1986-1989); missionary in Guadaloupe, France (1990-1996); director of the Catholic Pastoral Centre in Vellore (1996-1999); professor at Saint Paul’s Seminary in Tiruchirapalli (1999-2001); parish priest of the Cathedral of Vellore (2001-2002); vicar general and parish priest of the Cathedral (2002-2005); vice rector and teacher at Saint Paul’s Seminary in Tiruchirapalli (2006-2010); parish priest of the Our Lady of Lourdes Shrine in Chetpet, vicar forane and member of the Episcopal Council of the diocese of Vellore (2010-2016); and visiting lecturer at the Don Bosco Major Seminary, in Chennai and Pallottine Major Seminary in Mysore (2016-2017).
Since 2017 he has served as director of the diocesan Retreat Centre, and visiting lecturer at Saint Paul’s Seminary in Tiruchirapalli.
Appointment of bishop of Mende, France
The Holy Father has appointed Rev. Benoît Bertrand, currently vicar general of Nantes, as bishop of Mende, France.
H.E. Mons. Benoît Bertrand
H.E. Mons. Benoît Bertrand was born on 1 June 1960 in Nantes, in the diocese of the same name. After his secondary studies, he studied pharmacy at university, obtaining a diploma in medical pathology in 1983.
From 1986 to 1991 he attended the Pontifical French Seminary in Rome and courses at the “John Paul II” Institute for Studies on Marriage and Family of the Pontifical Lateran University, where he obtained his doctorate in theology in 1995.
He was ordained on 29 June 1991 for the diocese of Nantes.
He has held the following positions and ministries: student in Rome (1991-1992); collaborator of the student chaplain of Nantes (1992-1994); professor at the Interdiocesan Seminary of Angers (1994-1996); professor of the Interdiocesan Seminary of Nantes (1996-2004); rector of the Saint-Jean Interdiocesan Seminary of Nantes (2004-2010); and since 2010, vicar general of Nantes.
