Brother Sabino Iannuzzi elected Bishop of Castellaneta

On 5 March 2022, Pope Francis elected as Bishop of Castellaneta, Italy, Fra Sabino Iannuzzi OFM, a member of the Franciscan Province of Santa Maria delle Grazie, Benevento, until now Guardian and Rector of the Basilica of the Santissima Annunziata in Vitulano. Brother Sabino Iannuzzi was born on 24th August 1969 in Avellino. He made his First Profession on 22nd September 1991 and Solemn Profession on 22nd October 1994. He was ordained a priest on 24th June 1995. Since ordination, Brother Sabino has held the following positions in the Province: Provincial Animator for the Pastoral Care of Vocations, Provincial Assistant to the Secular Franciscan Order and Franciscan Youth, Provincial Secretary, Provincial Delegate for Social Communications, Guardian and Rector. In 2006 Brother Sabino attended the Master in "Management, Administration and Control of Ecclesiastical Bodies" at the University of the Sacred Heart in Milan. In 2008 he obtained a Licentiate in Sacred Theology, with a specialisation in Pastoral Theology, from the Theological Faculty of Southern Italy in Naples, and in 2021 he obtained a Diploma in Theology of Consecrated Life from the Pontifical Lateran University in Rome. At the Provincial Chapter of 2007, Friar Sabino Iannuzzi was elected Provincial of the Province of Benevento and was reappointed for a three-year term from 2013 to 2017. It should be noted that during his provincialate he held various offices such as President of the Conference of Ministers Provincial of the Friars Minor of Italy (COMPI) from 2013 to 2016 and President of the Union of European Friars Minor from 2015 to 2017. From 2016 to 2021 he sat on the Board of Directors of the company "Laudato srl", for the management of the hotel facilities of the COMPI.  In 2018 he was Visitator General and President of the Provincial Chapter of the Province of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary of the Friars Minor of Lecce. At the local church level Fra Sabino Iannuzzi has been a member of the College of Consultors, the Presbyteral Council, a member of the Board of Auditors of the Diocesan Institute for the Substitution of the Clergy and Rector of the Diocesan Sanctuary of the Infant Jesus of Prague in Benevento and for the Archdiocese of Benevento. Since 2017 he has been Episcopal Vicar for Consecrated Life and a member of the Diocesan Pastoral Council. At provincial level, he is currently Editor-in-Chief of the quarterly magazine "Voce Francescana", Legal Representative, and Head of the Fraternity providing a welcoming environment to those discerning a vocation. The Order wishes the new Bishop well and prays that his ministry in the particular Church of Castellaneta may bear abundant good fruits.