Resignation and appointment of bishop of Ituiutaba, Brazil
Resignation and appointment of bishop of Sankt Gallen, Switzerland
Erection of the ecclesiastical province of São José do Rio Preto, Brazil, and appointment of the first metropolitan archbishop
Appointment of bishop of San Diego, U.S.A.
Appointment of secretary of the Dicastery for the Institutes of Consecrated Life and the Societies of Apostolic Life
Resignation and appointment of bishop of Ituiutaba, Brazil
The Holy Father has accepted the resignation from the pastoral care of the diocese of Ituiutaba, Brazil, presented by Bishop Irineu Andreassa, O.F.M.
The Holy Father has appointed Bishop Valter Magno de Carvalho as bishop of the diocese of Ituiutaba, Brazil, transferring him from the titular see of Giufi and the office of auxiliary of the metropolitan archdiocese of São Salvador de Bahia.
Curriculum vitae
Bishop Valter Magno de Carvalho was born on 22 February 1973 in Capela Nova, metropolitan archdiocese of Mariana, in the State of Minas Gerais. He studied philosophy and theology at the São José Major Seminary in Mariana-MG.
He was ordained a priest for the metropolitan archdiocese of Mariana on 23 August 1997.
He has held the following offices: director and professor of the preparatory course, parish administrator of Santo Antônio in Correia de Almeida, district of Barbacena-MG, and of São Sebastião in Cláudio Manoel, district of Mariana-MG, parish priest of the São José Basilica in Barbacena-MG, of Nossa Senhora da Assunção in Barbacena-MG and of Nossa Senhora das Mercês in Mercês-MG, episcopal vicar, vicar forane, rector of the São José Major Seminary, director of the São Lourenço Diaconal School, member of the College of Consultors, and professor in the local Institute of Theology.
On 4 November 2020 he was appointed titular bishop of Giufi and auxiliary of the metropolitan archdiocese of São Salvador da Bahia, and received episcopal ordination on 23 January 2021.
Within the National Conference of Bishops of Brazil, he is a member of the Episcopal Commission for Ordained Ministers and Consecrated Life.
Resignation and appointment of bishop of Sankt Gallen, Switzerland
The Holy Father has accepted the resignation from the pastoral care of the diocese of Sankt Gallen, Switzerland, presented by Bishop Markus Büchel.
The Holy Father has appointed the Reverend Canon Beat Grögli, of the clergy of Sankt Gallen and parish priest of the Cathedral, as bishop of the same diocese.
Curriculum vitae
Msgr. Beat Grögli was born on 20 September 1970 in Wil. He studied theology in Freiburg, Wien and Innsbruck, and psychology at the Pontifical Gregorian University of Rome.
He was ordained a priest on 16 August 1998.
He has held the following offices: parish vicar of Saint Otmar (1998-2003), chaplain in Rotmonten-Heiligkreuz (2006-2013), parish priest of the Catheral of Sankt Gallen (since 2013) and dean of the deanery of Sankt Gallen (since 2018).
As bishop of Sankt Gallen, he will also assume the office of apostolic administrator of the two demicantons of Appenzell.
Erection of the ecclesiastical province of São José do Rio Preto, Brazil, and appointment of the first metropolitan archbishop
The Holy Father has erected the ecclesiastical province of São José do Rio Preto, Brazil, elevating the See of São José do Rio Preto to a metropolitan Church and assigning to it as suffragans the dioceses of Barretos, Catanduva, Jales and Votuporanga, until now belonging to the ecclesiastical province of Ribeirão Preto.
The ecclesiastical province of Ribeirão Preto, Brazil, will keep the suffragan dioceses of Franca, Jaboticabal and São João da Boa Vista.
At the same time, the Pope has appointed Bishop Antônio Emídio Vilar, S.D.B., of the See of São José do Rio Preto, as the first metropolitan archbishop of São José do Rio Preto.
Curriculum vitae
Archbishop-elect Antônio Emídio Vilar, S.D.B., was born on 14 November 1957 in Guardinha, diocese of Guaxupé, in the State of Minas Gerais. He carried out his studies in philosophy at the Salesian Faculty of Lorena-SP, and obtained a bachelor’s degree and a licentiate in theology from the Salesian Pontifical University of Rome.
After giving his religious vows in the Salesian Society of Saint John Bosco in 1976, he received priestly ordination on 9 August 1986.
He has held the following offices: coordinator of studies and formator of seminarians, community director, coordinator and professor of the Instituto Teológico Pio XI in São Paulo-SP, advisor to the Inspetoria Salesiana of São Paulo-SP, master of novices, parish priest of Nossa Senhora Auxiliadora and director of the Instituto Dom Bosco in São Paulo-SP, judge of the Interdiocesan Tribunal of Aparecida-SP, member of the Presbyteral Council of the diocese of São Carlos. Within the National Conference of Bishops of Brazil, he has served as vice president of the Oeste 2 Region and member of the Episcopal Commission for Youth.
On 23 July 2008 he was appointed bishop of São Luiz de Cáceres and received episcopal ordination on the following 27 September. On 28 September 2016 he was appointed bishop of São João da Boa Vista and on 19 January 2022 he was transferred to the diocese of São José do Rio Preto.
Appointment of bishop of San Diego, U.S.A.
The Holy Father has appointed Bishop Michael M. Pham, until now titular bishop of Cercina and auxiliary of San Diego, United States of America, as bishop of the same diocese.
Curriculum vitae
Bishop Michael Pham was born on 12 February 1967 in Da Nang, Vietnam. He obtained a bachelor’s degree and a master’s degree in aeronautical engineering from San Diego State University. He studied at Saint Patrick’s Seminary in Menlo Park and was subsequently awarded a licentiate in evangelization from the Sacred Heart Major Seminary in Detroit.
He was ordained a priest for the diocese of San Diego on 25 June 1999.
He has held the following offices: parish vicar of Saint Mary, Star of the Sea in Oceanside (1999-2001), vocational director (2001-2004), and parish priest of Holy Family in San Diego (2004-2014), Saint Therese in San Diego (2014-2016) and Good Shepherd in San Diego (2016-2023). In addition, he was episcopal vicar for ethnic communities and vicar general.
He was appointed titular bishop of Cercina and auxiliary of San Diego on 6 June 2023, and received episcopal consecration the following 28 September. On 17 March 2025 he was elected diocesan administrator.
Appointment of secretary of the Dicastery for the Institutes of Consecrated Life and the Societies of Apostolic Life
The Holy Father has appointed the Reverend Sr. Tiziana Merletti, former superior general of the Franciscan Sisters of the Poor, as secretary of the Dicastery for the Institutes of Consecrated Life and the Societies of Apostolic Life.
Sr. Merletti was born on 30 September 1959 in Pineto, Teramo, Italy. In 1986 she gave her first religious vows in the Institute of the Franciscan Sisters of the Poor. In 1984 she was awarded a degree in jurisprudence from the then Libera Università Abruzzese degli Studi “Gabriele d’Annunzio” in Teramo and, in 1992, a doctorate in canon law from the Pontifical Lateran University in Rome. From 2004 to 2013 she was superior general of her religious Institute. She is currently a lecturer in the Faculty of Canon Law of the Pontifical University Antonianum in Rome, and collaborates as a canon lawyer with the International Union of Superiors General.
