AFRICA/MOZAMBIQUE - The Pope appoints new Bishop of Lichinga

Vatican City (Agenzia Fides) - The Holy Father, Pope XVI, on 30 December 2008, appointed Rev. Fr. Elio Greselin, S.C.J., former Provincial of the Dehonian Fathers in Mozambique, Bishop of the diocese of (Mozambique).
The new Bishop was born on 15 November 1938 at Tretto di Venza (Italy), diocese of Vicenza. He studied philosophy (1957-1960) and theology (1961-1965) at seminaries of the Congregation of the Priests of the Sacred Heart of Jesus (Dehonians), in Monza and in Bologna. He made his first profession on 29 September 1956 and was ordained a priest on 23 June 1965 in Bologna. Since his ordination he ministered as follows: 1965-1966: studies in Portuguese language in Lisbon; 1966-1975: Formator of young seminarians at the Minor Seminary of his Congregation in Milevane/Zambezia (Mozambique); 1975-1990: head of formation at the major seminary of the Dehonian Province of Bologna (Italy); 1991-1996: Novice Master at Gurué (Zambezia/Mozambique); 1996-2004: missionary apostolate at mission in Upper Molócue and Gilé/Zambezia (Mozambique); 2004-2007: Dehonian Provincial Superior in Mozambique, with offices at Quelimane; since 2007: Novice master collaborator at Gurué.
The diocese of Vichinga, created in 1976, is a suffragan of the archdiocese of Nampula. It has an area of 129,369 sq. km, and a population 1,084,682 (200,466 are Catholics), 21 parishes, 29 priests (15 diocesan and 14 religious), 4 Brothers, 34 seminarians 70 Sisters. (S.L.) (Agenzia Fides 8/1/2009; righe 18, parole 226)