Appointment of bishop of Rio Branca, Brazil

The Holy Father has appointed Bishop Antonio Fontinele de Melo as bishop of the diocese of Rio Branco, transferring him from the diocese of Humaitá.

Curriculum vitae

Bishop Antonio Fontinele de Melo was born on 9 May 1968in Camocim, State of Ceará. He carried out his studies in philosophy and theology at the São João XXIII Seminary in Porto Velho. He went on to specialize in educational methodology and in Sacred Scripture.

He was ordained a priest on 18 September 1999 for the archdiocese of Porto Velho.

He has held the following offices: rector of the Dom Helder Câmara Minor Seminary (1999-2005); parish priest of the parish of São Cristóvão (1999-2013); president of the Presbyters at the Noroeste Regional Conference of the Conferência Nacional dos Bispos do Brasil (C.N.B.B.); coordinator of pastoral care for the archdiocese of Porto Velho (2005–2010); councillor for Basic Ecclesial Communities of the Noroeste Regional Conference of the C.N.B.B.; Lecturer at the São João XXIII Major Seminary of the archdiocese of Porto Velho; lecturer at the Claretian University Centre; lecturer at the Faculdade de Rondônia (FARO); parish priest of the Sagrado Coração de Jesus Cathedral (2012–2020) and archdiocesan treasurer.

On 12 August 2020 he was appointed bishop of Humaitá, receiving episcopal ordination the following 17 October.