Appointment of metropolitan archbishop of Maringá, Brazil

The Holy Father has appointed Bishop Severino Clasen, O.F.M., of Caçador, as metropolitan archbishop of the diocese of Maringá, Brazil.

He is succeeded by Bishop.

Bishop Severino Clasen, O.F.M.

Bishop Severino Clasen, O.F.M.was born on 10 June 1954 in Petrolândia, Brazil, in the diocese of Rio do Sul, State of Santa Catarina. He carried out his studies in philosophy at the Institute of Philosophy of the Franciscans in Curitiba-PR and in theology at the Franciscan Institute of Theology at Petrópolis-RJ. In addition, he attended specialist and refresher courses on the Franciscan sources in Assisi, Italy, and on sacred scriptures in the Holy Land.

He gave his religious vows in the Franciscan Order of Friars Minor and was ordained a priest on 10 July 1982.

During his ministry he has held the following pastoral roles: parish vicar of “Nossa Senhora do Rosário” in Concórdia-SC; guardian and parish priest of “Nossa Senhora do Rosário” in Porto União-SC; secretary of the Vocational Sector of the Province; assistant of the “Santa Clara” Fraternity of the Secular Franciscan Order; parish priest and rector of the Parish-Shrine of “São Francisco de Assis” in São Paulo.

On 11 May 2005 he was appointed bishop of Araçuaí and received episcopal ordination on 25 June 2005. On 6 July 2011 he transferred to Caçador.

Within the National Conference of Bishops of Brazil he is president of the Episcopal Pastoral Commission for the Laity and is currently president of the “Sul 4” Region, which includes the ecclesiastical circumscriptions of the State of Santa Catarina.