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Vatican City (Agenzia Fides) - The Holy Father Francis appointed Fr. Vijaya Kumar Rayarala, P.I.M.E., currently Regional Superior of the Pontifical Institute for Foreign Missions in India, as Bishop of the Diocese of Srikakulam (India).
The new Bishop was born on October 15, 1969 in Khammam, in the diocese of Khammam. In 1990 he entered the Pontifical Institute for Foreign Missions (P.I.M.E.), and in the years 1990-1991 he held a course of orientation at St. John's Minor Seminary in Nidadavolu, Eluru. In the years 1991-1993 he completed his Philosophy studies at the Jnana Deep Vidyapeet in Pune. In the years 1993-1998 he studied Theology and Spirituality in the International Theologate of P.I.M.E. in Monza, Italy. In the years 2000-2003 he obtained a Licentiate in Biblical Theology at the University of San Luigi in Posillipo, Naples. He was ordained a priest on 29 August 1998.
Since his priestly ordination he has held the following positions: Vocational animator at St. Xavier’s Institutions, in Eluru (1998-2000); Studies for a Licentiate in Biblical Theology at the University of San Luigi at Posillipo, Naples (2000-2003); Missionary and parish priest in Papua New Guinea (2003-2006); Associate Director of the Leprosy Rehabilitation Center in Bombay (2006-2008); Director of the Rehabilitation Center for Lepers in Bombay (2008-2014); since 2014 Regional Superior of the Pontifical Institute for Foreign Missions in India and, at the same time, Member of the College of Consultors of the Diocese of Eluru. (SL) (Agenzia Fides,16/7/2019)
