Bentiu erected, Carlassare named Bishop

The Diocese of Bentiu, South Sudan was erected with territory taken from Malakal and made a suffragan of Juba.

Bishop Christian Carlassare, M.C.C.I. was named its first bishop. He had been serving as Bishop of Rumbek.

New Cardinals!

Today Pope Francis indicated that he intends to create 21 new Cardinals on 30 Septemeber 2023. Here is the list:

Cardinal-Designates:

• Robert Francis Prevost, O.S.A., Prefect of the Dicastery for Bishops; Age: 68.0
• Claudio Gugerotti, Prefect of the Dicastery for the Eastern Churches; Age: 67.9
• Victor Manuel Fernández, Prefect of the Dicastery for the Doctrine of the Faith; Age: 61.1
• Emil Paul Tscherrig, Apostolic Nuncio to Italy; Age: 76.6
• Christophe Louis Yves Georges Pierre, Apostolic Nuncio to United States of America; Age: 77.6
• Pierbattista Pizzaballa, O.F.M., Patriarch of Jerusalem {Gerusalemme}, Palestine; Age: 58.4
• Stephen Brislin, Archbishop of Cape Town {Kaapstad}, South Africa; Age: 67.0
• Ángel Sixto Rossi, S.J., Archbishop of Córdoba, Argentina; Age: 65.1
• Luis José Rueda Aparicio, Archbishop of Bogotá, Colombia; Age: 61.5
• Grzegorz Ryś, Archbishop of Łódź, Poland; Age: 59.6
• Stephen Ameyu Martin Mulla, Archbishop of Juba, South Sudan; Age: 59.7
• José Cobo Cano, Archbishop of Madrid, Spain; Age: 58.0
• Protase Rugambwa, Coadjutor Archbishop of Tabora, Tanzania; Age: 63.3
• Sebastian Francis, Bishop of Penang, Malaysia; Age: 71.8
• Stephen Chow Sau-yan, S.J., Bishop of Hong Kong [Xianggang], China; Age: 64.1
• François-Xavier Bustillo, O.F.M. Conv., Bishop of Ajaccio, France; Age: 54.8
• Américo Manuel Alves Aguiar, Auxiliary Bishop of Lisboa {Lisbon}, Portugal; Age: 49.7
• Ángel Fernández Artime, S.D.B., Rector General of Salesians of Saint John Bosco; Age: 63.1

Count: 18; Average Age: 63.7

Cardinal-Designates (Non-Voting):

• Agostino Marchetto, Secretary Emeritus of the Dicastery for Promoting Integral Human Development; Age: 83.0
• Diego Rafael Padrón Sánchez, Archbishop Emeritus of Cumaná, Venezuela; Age: 84.3
• Luis Pascual Dri, O.F.M. Cap., Priest of Order of Friars Minor Capuchin; Age: 96.4

Count: 3; Average Age: 87.9

Napeta named Torit Bishop

Bishop-elect Emmanuel Bernardino Lowi Napeta was named Bishop of Torit, South Sudan.

The diocese had been vacant since then-Bishop Stephen Ameyu Martin Mulla was named Archbishop of Juba in December 2019.

Chami named Antiochia Auxiliary

Bishop-elect Jean-Marie Chami was confirmed as Auxiliary Bishop of Antiochia {Antioch} (Melkite Greek), Syria and Patriarchal Vicar of Egypt, Sudan, and South Sudan (Melkite Greek), and named Titular Bishop of Tarsus dei Greco-Melkiti.

Warde confirmed Le Caire Bishop

Bishop-elect Elie Joseph Warde confirmed as Bishop of Le Caire {Cairo} (Syrian), Egypt and Patriarchal Vicar of Sudan and South Sudan (Syrian).

Lodu Tombe retired, Sakor Eyobo named Yei Bishop

Bishop Erkolano Lodu Tombe retired and Bishop-elect Alex Lodiong Sakor Eyobo was named Bishop of Yei, South Sudan.

Carlassare named Rumbek Bishop

Bishop-elect Christian Carlassare, M.C.C.I. was named Bishop of Rumbek, South Sudan.

The diocese had been vacant since the death of Bishop Cesare Mazzolari, M.C.C.I. in July 2011.

Gbitik named Wau Bishop

Bishop-elect Matthew Remijio Adam Gbitiku, M.C.C.I. was named Bishop of Wau, South Sudan.

The diocese had been vacant since the death of Bishop Rudolf Deng Majak in March 2017.

van Megen named South Sudan Nuncio

Archbishop Hubertus Matheus Maria van Megen was named Apostolic Nuncio to South Sudan in addition to his other posts.

The post had been vacant since Archbishop Charles Daniel Balvo was named Apostolic Nuncio to Czech Republic in September 2018.

Ameyu Martin Mulla named Torit Bishop

Bishop-elect Stephen Ameyu Martin Mulla was named Bishop of Torit, South Sudan.

The diocese had been vacant since the death of Bishop Akio Johnson Mutek in March 2013.

Balvo named South Sudan Nuncio

Archbishop Charles Daniel Balvo was named the first Apostolic Nuncio to South Sudan in addition to his other duties.