Erection of the diocese of Cruz Das Almas, Brazil, and appointment of the first bishop

Appointment of bishop of Mannar, Sri Lanka

Erection of the diocese of Cruz Das Almas, Brazil, and appointment of the first bishop

The Holy Father has erected the diocese of Cruz Das Almas, Brazil, with territory taken from the archbishop of São Salvador da Bahia, making it a suffragan of the same archdiocese.

The Holy Father has appointed as first bishop of the diocese of Cruz Das Almas, Brazil, H.E. Msgr. Antônio Tourinho Neto, currently titular bishop of Satafi and auxiliary of the archdiocese of Olinda and Recife.

H.E. Msgr. Antônio Tourinho Neto

H.E. Msgr. Antônio Tourinho Neto was born on 9 January 1964 in Jequié, of the same diocese, in the State of Bahia. He carried out his studies in philosophy at the Catholic University of Salvador (1982-1984) and in theology at the Higher Institute of Theology of the archdiocese of São Sebastião do Rio de Janeiro (1985-1988). He then obtained a licentiate in canon law from the Institute of Canon Law of Rio de Janeiro (1988-1990).

He was ordained a priest on 20 January 1990 and incardinated in the diocese of Jequié, in which he held the following offices: parish vicar in Aiuquara; diocesan promoter of vocations; diocesan judge auditor; pastor of the parishes of the Cathedral Santo Antônio, of Santo Antônio in Brejões and of Cristo Rei in Jequié; chancellor of the Curia; member of the presbyteral council and the college of consultors; spiritual director of the diocesan João Paulo II Seminary; vicar general.

In addition, he has served as defender of the bond and promoter of justice of the Nordeste 3 Regional Ecclesiastical Tribunal; professor of canon law in the Dom Valfredo Tepe Faculty in Ilhéus and in the Catholic Faculty of Feira de Santana; regional coordinator of the “Fazendas da Esperança (rehabilitation centre for drug users); member of the Brazilian Society of Canonists; ecclesiastical supervisor of various ecclesial movements.

On 12 November 2014 he was appointed as titular bishop of Satafi and auxiliary of the diocese of Olinda and Recife. He received episcopal ordination on 17 January 2015.

Statistical data

The following municipalities form the territory of the new diocese of Cruz das Almas: Cruz das Almas, Cabaceiras do Paraguaçu, Cachoeira, Governador Mangabeira, Maragogipe, Muritiba, Santo Amaro, São Félix, Sapeaçu, Saubara.

1.         The statistical data of the new diocese of Cruz das Almas are as follows:

2.         The statistical data of the archdiocese São Salvador da Bahia after its dismemberment are as follows:

Appointment of bishop of Mannar, Sri Lanka

The Holy Father has appointed H.E. Msgr. Fidelis Lionel Emmanuel Fernando as bishop of Mannar, Sri Lanka, transferring him from the office of auxiliary of the archdiocese of Colombo and from the titular see of Orta.