Appointment of bishop of Bauchi, Nigeria
Appointment of bishop of Uruguaiana, Brazil
Appointment of auxiliary bishop of Trier, Germany
Appointment of auxiliary bishop of Salzburg, Austria
Appointment of the Secretary for the Dicastery for the Laity, Family and Life
Appointment of the President and the Secretary of the Pontifical International Marian Academy
Appointment of Member of the Congregation for the Oriental Churches
Appointment of bishop of Bauchi, Nigeria
The Holy Father has appointed as bishop of the diocese of Bauchi, Nigeria, the Rev. Fr. Hilary Nanman Dachelem, C.M.F., parish priest and vicar for the religious of the diocese of Shendam.
Rev. Fr. Hilary Nanman Dachelem, C.M.F.
The Rev. Fr. Hilary Nanman Dachelem, C.M.F., was born on 3 June 1966 in Makurdi. He studied philosophy at the Claretian Institute of Philosophy in Owerri and theology at the Spiritan International School in Enugu. He entered the Congregation of the Claretian Missionaries, giving his first vows on 8 September 1988 and his perpetual vows on 13 September 1993. He was ordained a priest on 1 July 2015.
Since priestly ordination he has held the following roles: bursar of the Claretian Institute of Philosophy (1995-1999); bursar and consulter of the C.M.F. (provincial) for two terms (1999-2005); member of the General Economic Council of the C.M.F. (2003-2006); prefect of spirituality, Claretian Institute of Philosophy (2005-2009); and pastor of the St. Maria Goretti parish, archdiocese of Owerri (2005-2010). He is currently pastor of the St. John Vianney parish, diocese of Shendam, co-ordinator of the Claretian Mission Positions in northern Nigeria, and vicar for religious, diocese of Shendam (since 2010); and member of the Formation Team in Jos (since 2015).
Appointment of bishop of Uruguaiana, Brazil
The Holy Father has appointed as bishop of the diocese of Uruguaiana, Brazil, Mgsr. José Mário Scalon Angonese, currently titular bishop of Giufi and auxiliary of the diocese of Curitiba.
Mgsr. José Mário Scalon Angonese
Mgsr. José Mário Scalon Angonese was born on 1 June 1960 in Unistalda, diocese of Uruguaiana, in the State of Rio Grande do Sul. He carried out his studies in philosophy and theology at the major seminary of Viamão, in the archdiocese of Porto Alegre (1983-1989). He then attended a specialist course in psychopedagogy at the Canoas Faculty of Philosophy.
On 16 December 1989 he received priestly ordination and was incardinated in the diocese of Santa Maria. During his priestly ministry he has served as promoter of vocational pastoral ministry (1990-2002) and in the São José minor seminary the functions of Assistant (1990-2002); spiritual director (1991-1998) and rector (1999-2001). In 1995 he carried out his ministry in the diocese of Cruz Alta, holding the office of pastor of the parish of “Natividade” in Ijuí. He was then pastor of the parish of the Santíssima Trindade in Nova Palma (2002-2010) and the parish of the Ressurreição in Santa Maria (2011-2013). In addition, he has served as rector of the São João Maria Vianney major seminary (2011-2013).
On 20 February 2013 he was appointed as titular bishop of Giufi and auxiliary of the archdiocese of Curitiba, receiving episcopal ordination on the following 28 April.
Appointment of auxiliary bishop of Salzburg, Austria
The Holy Father has appointed as auxiliary bishop of the archdiocese of Salzburg, Austria, Msgr. Hansjörg Hofer, of the clergy of the same archdiocese, currently vicar general and dean of the Metropolitan Chapter, assigning him the titular see of Abziri.
Msgr. Hansjörg Hofer
Msgr. Hansjörg Hofer was born on 14 April 1952 in Stumm im Zillertal. He carried out his philosophical and theological studies in Salzburg, receiving in 1979 a doctorate in theology.
He was ordained a priest on 29 June 1976, and incardinated in the clergy of Salzburg.
He was then first master of ceremonies, then special secretary to the archbishop of Salzburg.
In 1979 he became parish co-operator in Hallein. In 1984 he was appointed as parish priest in Mittersill. In 1992 he was appointed as canon of the Metropolitan Chapter of Salzburg, chancellor of the archiepiscopal Curia and head of staff.
He was then named Prelate of His Holiness.
Since 2006 he has served as vicar general, and in 2016 was designated dean of the Metropolitan Chapter.
Appointment of auxiliary bishop of Trier, Germany
The Holy Father has appointed as auxiliary bishop of the diocese of Trier, Germany, Msgr. Franz Josef Gebert, of the clergy of the same diocese, currently dean of the Cathedral Chapter and director of diocesan Caritas, assigning him the titular see of Vegesela di Bizacena.
Msgr. Franz Josef Gebert
Msgr. Franz Josef Gebert was born on 21 February 1949 in Schweich, diocese of Trier.
He carried out his philosophical and theological studies in Trier and, as an alumnus of the Pontifical Germanic-Hungarian College, at the Pontifical Gregorian University.
He was ordained a priest on 10 October 1977, and was incardinated in the clergy of Trier.
From 1979 to 1981 he was parish vicar in Sinzig am Rhein.
He was then appointed as special secretary to the bishop of Trier and vicar of the Cathedral.
In 1985 he became vice-rector of the diocesan seminary.
From 1991 to 2000 he was director of the diocesan pastoral office, and from 1995 also master of ceremonies of the Cathedral.
In 2000 he became director of diocesan Caritas, an office he continues to hold.
In 2001 he was named Prelate of Honour of His Holiness.
In 2002 he was appointed canon of the Cathedral Chapter of Trier and has served as dean of the same Chapter since 2004.
In addition, since 2016 he has served as pro-vicar general.
Appointment of auxiliary bishop of Trier, Germany
The Holy Father has appointed as auxiliary bishop of the diocese of Trier, Germany, Msgr. Franz Josef Gebert, of the clergy of the same diocese, currently dean of the Cathedral Chapter and director of diocesan Caritas, assigning him the titular see of Vegesela di Bizacena.
Msgr. Franz Josef Gebert
Msgr. Franz Josef Gebert was born on 21 February 1949 in Schweich, diocese of Trier.
He carried out his philosophical and theological studies in Trier and, as an alumnus of the Pontifical Germanic-Hungarian College, at the Pontifical Gregorian University.
He was ordained a priest on 10 October 1977, and was incardinated in the clergy of Trier.
From 1979 to 1981 he was parish vicar in Sinzig am Rhein.
He was then appointed as special secretary to the bishop of Trier and vicar of the Cathedral.
In 1985 he became vice-rector of the diocesan seminary.
From 1991 to 2000 he was director of the diocesan pastoral office, and from 1995 also master of ceremonies of the Cathedral.
In 2000 he became director of diocesan Caritas, an office he continues to hold.
In 2001 he was named Prelate of Honour of His Holiness.
In 2002 he was appointed canon of the Cathedral Chapter of Trier and has served as dean of the same Chapter since 2004.
In addition, since 2016 he has served as pro-vicar general.
Appointment of the Secretary for the Dicastery for the Laity, Family and Life
The Holy Father has appointed as Secretary of the Dicastery for the Laity, Family and Life, Rev. Fr. Alexandre Awi Mello, I. Sch., National Director of the Schönstatt Movement in Brazil.
Rev. Fr. Alexandre Awi Mello, I. Sch.
The Rev. Fr. Alexandre Awi Mello, I. Sch., was born on January 17, 1971 in Rio de Janeiro.
He was ordained a priest on 7 July 2001 as a member of the Secular Institute of the Schönstatt Fathers, and subsequently held the following offices: parish vicar of Nossa Senhora das Dores in Santa Maria in the State of Rio Grande do Sul; assessor of Apostolic Youth of Schönstatt for southeast and southern Brazil; national director of the Schönstatt Movement in Brazil.
He completed his studies in philosophy and theology at the Pontifical Catholic University of Santiago de Chile, and then obtained a degree in theology from the Philosophisch-Theologische Hochschule Vallendar, Federal Republic of Germany, 2000. He is currently completing his doctorate in Mariology at the University of Dayton International Marian Research Institute in Ohio, United States of America.
He held the position of professor of Pastoral and Systematic Theology at Londrina at the Paul VI Institute (2002-2004) and Pontifical Catholic University of Paraná (2005-2009); then, from 2012, in São Paulo, at the Salesian University Centre and the São Bento Faculty.
In 2007 he collaborated with the editorial Secretariat for the Aparecida Conference.
He is editor of the Tabor magazine, and has published several articles in specialized journals on catechesis and pastoral ministry.
Appointment of the President and the Secretary of the Pontifical International Marian Academy
The Pope has appointed as president of the Pontifical International Marian Academy Rev. Fr. Stefano Cecchin, O.F.M., and as secretary of the same institution, Rev. Fr. Bogusz Stanisław Matula, O.F.M.
Appointment of Member of the Congregation for the Oriental Churches
The Holy Father Francis has appointed as member of the Congregation for the Oriental Churches His Excellency Msgr. Pierbattista Pizzaballa, titular archbishop of Verbe, apostolic administrator sede vacante of the Patriarchate of Jerusalem of the Latins.
