OTHER PONTIFICAL ACTS

Vatican City, 25 June 2013 (VIS) – Today, the Holy Father appointed Fr. Francesco Piazza as bishop of Sessa Aurunca (area 338, population 89,800, Catholics 87,800, priests 48, permanent deacons 8, religious 62), Italy. The bishop-elect was born in Solopaca, Benevento, Italy in 1953 and was ordained a priest in for the Diocese of Cerreto Sannita-Telese-Sant’Agata de’ Goti in 1978. Since ordination, he has served in several pastoral academic, and diocesan-level roles, most recently, since 2002, as the episcopal vicar for the Evangelization and Testimonial section and, since 2004, as director of the Bachelet Centre of Social Studies, which he founded. He is also a tenured professor in the Pontifical Theological Faculty of Southern Italy (San Luigi of Naples section), member of the College of Consultors and of the Presbyteral Council, theologian canon of the cathedral, master chaplain of the Military Order of Malta, and knight with the function of prior of the Order of the Holy Sepulchre. He succeeds Bishop Antonio Napoletano, C.Ss.R., whose resignation from the pastoral care of the same diocese the Holy Father accepted, upon having reached the age limit.