BR MARIO VACCARI APPOINTED BISHOP OF MASSA CARRARA-PONTREMOLI

On 24 February 2022, Pope Francis chose Br Mario Vaccari, OFM, Vicar Provincial of the Province of St Anthony of the Friars Minor (Northern Italy), as Bishop of Massa Carrara-Pontremoli. Br Mario Vaccari was born on 5 February 1959 in Genoa. He made his First Profession on 4 April 1993 and Solemn Profession on 7 April 1997. He was ordained a priest on 8 December 1998. He has carried out various services as Guardian of the Friary of Our Lady of the Mount in Genoa, Guardian of the Friary of Our Lady of the Angels in Voltri, Master of the Temporarily Professed. He served as Definitor and Legal Representative of the former Franciscan Province of the Sacred Heart of the Blessed Virgin Mary of Liguria and was its last Provincial. He also collaborated in establishing Fraternities called New Forms of Life and Mission in the Order. Following the birth of the Province of St Anthony of Northern Italy, the result of the unification of six Italian Provinces, Br Mario Vaccari was appointed Vicar Provincial in 2016 and reconfirmed in the same service by the Chapter of 2019. The Order wishes the new Bishop well and prays that his ministry in the particular Church of Massa Carrara-Pontremoli will bear abundant good fruits.