Resignation and appointment of metropolitan archbishop of Santiago de Chile, Chile
Resignation and appointment of bishop of Afogados da Ingazeira, Brazil
Appointment of bishop of Hamilton, New Zealand
Appointment of bishop of Januária, Brazil
Resignation and appointment of metropolitan archbishop of Santiago de Chile, Chile
The Holy Father has accepted the resignation from the pastoral care of the metropolitan archdiocese of Santiago de Chile, Chile, presented by His Eminence Cardinal Celestino Aós Braco, O.F.M. Cap.
The Holy Father has appointed Archbishop Fernando Natalio Chomalí Garib as metropolitan archbishop of Santiago de Chile, transferring him from the archdiocese of Concepción.
Curriculum vitae
Archbishop Fernando Natalio Chomalí Garib was born on 10 March 1957 in Santiago de Chile. After graduating in civil engineering from the Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile, he carried out his studies in philosophy and theology in the Pontifical Major Seminary of Santiago.
He received priestly ordination on 6 April 1991 for the archdiocese of Santiago de Chile.
He holds a licentiate in moral theology from the Pontifical Alphonsian Academy in Rome, a doctorate in theology from the Pontifical Gregorian University in Rome, and a master’s degree in bioethics from the Pontifical John Paul II Theological Institute for Marriage and Family Sciences in Rome. He has served as parish vicar, episcopal delegate for university pastoral care, professor of moral theology and bioethics in the Faculties of Theology and Medicine of the Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile and in the Major Seminary; parish priest of Santa María de la Misericordia, moderator of the Curia and president delegate of the Economic Council of the archdiocese of Santiago de Chile; and member of the Pontifical Academy for Life (since 2001).
On 6 April 2006 he was appointed titular bishop of Noba and auxiliary of Santiago de Chile, receiving episcopal consecration the following 3 June.
On 20 April 2011 he was appointed archbishop of Concepción. He is currently vice president of the Episcopal Conference of Chile.
Resignation and appointment of bishop of Afogados da Ingazeira, Brazil
The Holy Father has accepted the resignation from the pastoral care of the diocese of Afogados da Ingazeira, Brazil, presented by Bishop Egidio Bisol.
The Holy Father has appointed Bishop Limacêdo Antonio da Silva as bishop of the diocese of Afogados da Ingazeira, Brazil, transferring him from the titular see of Salde and the office of auxiliary of Olinda and Recife.
Curriculum vitae
Bishop Limacêdo Antonio da Silva was born on 20 September in Nazaré da Mata, diocese of Nazaré, in the State of Pernambuco.
He carried out his studies in philosophy at the Instituto Filosófico Estrela da Manhã in Nova Iguaçu-RJ and in theology at the Escola Teológica São Bento de Olinda in Olinda-PE. He was subsequently awarded a licentiate and a doctorate in dogmatic theology from the Pontifical Gregorian University of Rome.
He received priestly ordination on 12 January 1986, and was incardinated in the diocese of Nazaré.
He has held the following offices: parish vicar, parish priest, diocesan pastoral coordinator, diocesan supervisor for Missionary Youth and Childhood, member of the Pastoral Board, and professor of theology.
On 4 April 2018 he was appointed titular bishop of Salde and auxiliary of Olinda and Recife, receiving episcopal ordination the following 10 June.
Appointment of bishop of Hamilton, New Zealand
The Holy Father has appointed the Reverend Richard Philip James Laurenson, of the clergy of Hamilton, until now parish priest of the All Saints by the Sea parish in Papamoa Coast and diocesan chancellor, as bishop of the diocese of Hamilton, New Zealand.
Curriculum vitae
Msgr. Richard Philip James Laurenson was born on 4 July 1968 in Hamilton. He attended the Holy Cross Major Seminary in Mosgiel, in the diocese of Dunedin, obtaining a bachelor’s degree in theology from the University of Otago.
He was ordained a priest on 12 August 1995 for the diocese of Hamilton.
Following ordination, he was parish vicar of Saint Mary in Rotorua (1995-1998), and served with the Peace-keeping forces in Bougainville (1997-1998). He was then parish vicar of Saint Mary Immaculate in Tauranga (1998-1999); parish administrator of Saint Pius X in Melville (1999-2000); and parish priest of Saint Joseph in Whaihi (2000-2006). After obtaining a licentiate in canon law from the Pontifical Urban University in Rome (2007-2010), he went on to serve as parish priest of Immaculate Conception in Taumarunui (2006-2007), Saint Matthew in Hillcrest (2010-2011), Saint Joseph in Fairfield (2010-2015) and Saint Peter Chanel in Te Rapa (2010-2011 and 2013-2015); vicar general (2013-2014); diocesan administrator of the diocese of Hamilton (2014- 2015); vicar general and at the same time administrator of the Blessed Virgin Mary Cathedral and of the parishes of Saint Joseph, Saint Matthew and Saint Peter Chanel (2016-2019); parish priest of Holy Cross in Hamilton North and adjunct judicial vicar of the Tribunal of the Catholic Church for New Zealand (2019-2021).
He is a member of the College of Consultors and defender of the matrimonial bond at the Ecclesiastical Tribunal.
From 2014 to the present, he has served as diocesan chancellor and, since 2021, parish priest of All Saints by the Sea in Papamoa Coast.
Appointment of bishop of Januária, Brazil
The Holy Father has appointed the Reverend Geraldo de Souza Rodrigues, of the clergy of the metropolitan archdiocese of Mariana, until now parish priest of Nossa Senhora do Rosário de Fátima in Viçosa-MG.
Curriculum vitae
Msgr. Geraldo de Souza Rodrigues was born on 24 October 1963 in Porto Firme, archdiocese of Mariana, in the State of Minas Gerais. He carried out his studies in philosophy and theology at the São José Archdiocesan Seminary in Mariana-MG.
He received priestly ordination on 20 May 1988 and was incardinated in the archdiocese of Mariana.
He has held the following offices: parish priest of São Domingos de Gusmão in Diogo de Vasconcelos-MG (1988-1989), Nossa Senhora das Mercês in Mercês-MG (1989-1998), São Sebastião in Itabirito-MG (1999-2005), Sagrado Coração de Jesus in Conselheiro Lafaiete-MG (2005-2011), Nossa Senhora das Brotas in Entre Rios de Minas-MG (2011-2019) and São José in Paula Cândido-MG (2019-2022); archdiocesan coordinator for catechesis; archdiocesan representative for priests; vicar forane; episcopal vicar; and member of the College of Consultors and the Archdiocesan Pastoral Board.
Since 2022 he has served as parish priest of Nossa Senhora do Rosário de Fátima in Viçosa-MG.
