AFRICA/SUDAN - Coadjutor Bishop of El-Obeid appointed

Vatican City (Agenzia Fides) – The Holy Father Pope Benedict XVI on May 29, 2010 appointed as Coadjutor Bishop of the Diocese of El Obeid (Sudan) Father Michael Didi Adgum Mangoria, clergy of Khartoum, Rector of St. Paul's National Seminary in Khartoum.
Father Michael Didi Adgum Mangoria was born on January 1, 1959 in Engoth, Diocese of El Obeid. After primary school at St. Joseph Technical School in Khartoumha, and secondary school at the Comboni College of Khartoum and at St. Mary's National Seminary at Nazareth-Wau, he entered the minor seminary in Khartoum. He continued his studies at St. Paul's National Seminary Busare-Wau (1985-1987), in Munuki-Juba (1987-1989) and in Khartoum (1989-1992). He was ordained May 10, 1992 in Khartoum for the same archdiocese. Then sent to Rome, he graduated in 2001 in Canon Law from the Pontifical Urban University. After ordination, he held various positions: 1992-1997: Pastor of St. Bakita to Jabarona for displaced people, 1997-2001: Studies for a doctorate in Canon Law at the Pontifical Urban University, 2001-2008: Member of council of priests, and College of Consultants since 2004: Professor of Canon Law and Member of the Sudan Inter-religious Council. Since 2008, he has been rector of St. Paul's Major Seminary.
The Diocese of El Obeid (1974), is a suffragan of the Archdiocese of Khartoum. It covers an area of 888,939 sq km and has 8,900,000 inhabitants, including 140,000 Catholics, 10 parishes, 38 priests (23 diocesan and 15 religious), 21 seminarians, and 28 religious sisters. (SL) (Agenzia Fides 05/29/2010)