Appointment of bishop of Molegbe, Democratic Republic of the Congo
Appointment of bishop of Tulle, France
Appointment of vicar apostolic of Pilcomayo, Paraguay
Appointment of bishop of Molegbe, Democratic Republic of the Congo
The Holy Father has appointed the Reverend Joseph Mopepe Ngongo, doctoral candidate in theology at the Université Catholique du Congo, as bishop of the diocese of Molegbe, Democratic Republic of the Congo.
Curriculum vitae
Msgr. Joseph Mopepe Ngongo was born on 15 July 1966 in Gemena, diocese of Molegbe. He entered the Saint François d’Assise Preparatory Seminary of Katokoli and studied philosophy at the Saint Jean-Baptiste Major Seminary of Bamanya and theology at the Université Catholique du Congo.
He received priestly ordination on 19 March 1995.
After ordination, he was awarded a licentiate in theology from the Université Catholique du Congo (1995-1997), and held the roles of formator (1997-2002) and rector (2002-2011) of the Saint Pierre et Saint Paul Interdiocesan Major Seminary in Lisala.
In 2011 he began his studies for a doctorate in France where, at the same time, he served as vicar of the Notre Dame Saint Jacques Cathedral in Reims (2011-2021). In addition, he was moderator of the parishes of the Espace missionnaire Sedan-Yvois and chaplain of the Equipes du Rosaire of the metropolitan archdiocese of Reims (2021-2024).
In 2024 he returned to the Democratic Republic of the Congo to conclude his doctoral studies at the Université Catholique du Congo in Kinshasa.
Appointment of bishop of Tulle, France
The Holy Father has appointed the Reverend Fr. Éric Bidot, O.F.M. Cap., former provincial minister of the Capuchin Province of France, as bishop of Tulle.
Curriculum vitae
Msgr. Éric Bidot was born on 15 May 1971 in Paris. After his secondary studies in Versailles, he graduated in public law and carried out his studies in philosophy and theology at the Centre Sèvres in Paris.
He gave his perpetual vows in the Order of Friars Minor Capuchin in 2005 and was ordained a priest on 29 June 2007.
He has held the following offices: pastoral collaborator in the parish of Saint-Luc in Clermont-Ferrand (2007-2008), superior of the Community in Clermont-Ferrand (2009-2014), provincial minister of the Capuchin Province in France (2014-2023), and president of the Conference of Capuchin Provincial Ministers of Northern Europe (2019-2024).
Appointment of vicar apostolic of Pilcomayo, Paraguay
The Holy Father has appointed the Reverend Fr. Miguel Fritz, O.M.I., until now apostolic administrator of Pilcomayo, Paraguay, as vicar apostolic of the same apostolic vicariate.
Curriculum vitae
The Reverend Fr. Miguel Fritz, O.M.I., was born on 10 May 1955 in Hannover, Germany. He obtained a diploma in theology from the Gutenberg University of Mainz and a licentiate in anthropology from the Universidad Politécnica Salesiana of Quito.
He gave his perpetual vows in 1980 and was ordained a priest on 28 May 1981.
He has held the following offices: deputy parish priest in Gelsenkirchen, Germany (1981-1984), deputy parish priest in Colonia Independencia, diocese of Villarrica del Espíritu Santo (1985-1987), service in the O.M.I. House of Formation in Lambaré, Asunción (1987-1988), deputy parish priest of Santa María, in the apostolic vicariate of Pilcomayo (1988-1994), vicar general of Pilcomayo and parish priest of Santa María (1995-2006), superior of the O.M.I. in the province of Paraguay (2007-2010), member of the O.M.I. General Council at the General House in Rome (2010-2016), and vicar general of Pilcomayo and parish priest of San Leonardo (2016-2022).
Since 2022, he has served as apostolic administrator sede vacante et ad nutum Sanctae Sedis of the apostolic vicariate of Pilcomayo.
