Bishop Paolo Martinelli appointed Apostolic Vicar of Southern Arabia

Bishop Paolo Martinelli appointed Apostolic Vicar of Southern Arabia

Mangalore Today News Network

Abu Dhabi, May 04, 2022: On 1 May 2022 at 12 pm in Rome, it was announced that His Holiness Pope Francis has accepted the resignation of His Excellency Bishop Paul Hinder OFM Cap. from the pastoral governance of the Apostolic Vicariate of Southern Arabia. In view of the pastoral care of the Catholic faithful residing in the United Arab Emirates, Oman and Yemen, His Holiness Pope Francis has appointed His Excellency Bishop Paolo Martinelli OFM Cap., who was until the present the Auxiliary Bishop of Milan, as the new Apostolic Vicar.

 

The formal text of the announcement was communicated by the Charge D’Affaires of the Apostolic Nunciature in the United Arab Emirates, Msgr. Kryspin Dubiel. Msgr. Dubiel also announced that until the arrival and installation of the new Apostolic Vicar, Bishop Paul Hinder is appointed as the Apostolic Administrator of the Vicariate.

Bishop Paolo Martinelli is a member of the Franciscan Capuchin Order and holds a doctorate in theology from the Pontifical Gregorian University. He taught at the Pontifical Gregorian University and at the Pontifical University of Antonianum.

He has also worked as Consultor of various offices of the Holy See. He has been the Consultor of the Congregation for the Institutes of Consecrated Life and Societies of Apostolic Life (since 2006), the Consultor of the General Secretariat of the Synod of Bishops (since 2009) and Consultor of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith
(since 2012).

On 24 May 2014, the Holy Father Pope Francis appointed Msgr. Martinelli auxiliary bishop of the Archdiocese of Milan. He was ordained bishop in the Cathedral in Milan on 28 June 2014. He chose as his episcopal motto, “Gloria Dei vivens homo” (“The glory of God is man fully alive”).

In the Archdiocese of Milan, he has been the Episcopal Vicar for Consecrated Life since 2018. Monsignor Paolo Martinelli is also a member of the Italian Bishops Conference and was elected the President of the Episcopal Commission for the Clergy and Consecrated Life in 2021.

Bishop Martinelli has authored and edited several books and articles on spiritual life, mission and dialogue with the modern world.

Addressing the faithful of the Apostolic Vicariate of Southern Arabia, Bishop Paul Hinder, who has led the Vicariate since 2004, expressed his firm confidence that the Church would grow further under the able guidance of Bishop Martinelli and continue the pathway of fostering respectful dialogue and mutual understanding.

Until the canonical installation of Bishop Martinelli as Apostolic Vicar, Bishop Paul Hinder will continue guiding the Vicariate as Apostolic Administrator. The date of the installation ceremony of Bishop Martinelli as Apostolic Vicar will be published in due course.