The Holy Father has:

- appointed Msgr. Guglielmo Giombaco as bishop of Patti (area 1,647, population 168,300, Catholics 168,200, priests 112, religious 95), Italy. The bishop-elect was born in 1966 in Catania, Italy and was ordained a priest in 1991. He holds a bachelor’s degree in theology from the Pontifical Lateran University and a doctorate in “utroque iure” from the same institution, then frequenting the Studio Rotale. He has served in a number of pastoral roles in the diocese of Acireale, including secretary to the bishop and vice chancellor of the Curia (1992-2002); pastoral collaborator in the “Santa Maria del Carmelo” parish (1992-1995); promoter of justice and defender of the bond of the diocesan tribunal (1997-2000); judicial vicar (2000-2012); judge of the Sicilian Regional Ecclesiastical Tribunal (2001-2006). Since 2012 he has served as vicar general of the diocese of Acireale. He teaches canon law at the Theological Studio of Catania, and is member of the presbyteral council and college of consulters, and administrator of the Basilica of Sts. Peter and Paul in Acireale. His other offices include episcopal vicar for divine worship and sacraments; coordinator of the diocesan commission for permanent formation of the clergy; head of young presbyters; and chaplain of the municipal police force of the city of Acireale. In 2012 he was named Prelate of Honour of His Holiness.
He succeeds Bishop Ignazio Zambito, whose resignation from the pastoral care of the same diocese was accepted by the Holy Father.

- appointed Bishop Carlos Alberto Dos Santos of Teixeira de Freitas-Caravelas, Brazil, as bishop of Itabuna (area 10,692, population 723,000, Catholics 613,000, priests 44, permanent deacons 4, religious 46), Brazil. He succeeds Bishop Czesław Stanula, C.SS.R.

- accepted the resignation from the office of auxiliary of the diocese of Olomouc, Czech Republic, presented by Bishop Josef Hrdlička.