Fr. Rubén Tierrablanca, OFM, Nominated Apostolic Vicar of Istanbul

16 April 2016 – The Holy Father has appointed Fr. Rubén Tierrablanca Gonzalez, O.F.M., as apostolic vicar of Istanbul (Catholics 15,650, priests 42, religious 80), Turkey, and apostolic administrator of the exarchate for faithful of Byzantine rite. The bishop-elect was born in Cortázar, Mexico in 1952, gave his religious vows in 1977, and was ordained a priest in 1985. He holds a degree in sacred scripture from the Pontifical Biblical Institute, Rome, and has served in a number of pastoral and academic roles, including formator in the Franciscan seminary, professor of sacred scripture and master of students of theology at the St. Anthony Seminary, El Paso, U.S.A., rector of students of the Pontifical University Antonianum, Rome, and parish priest. He is currently delegate vicar of the apostolic vicariate of Istanbul. He succeeds Bishop Louis Pelâtre, A.A., whose resignation from the pastoral care of the same apostolic vicariate upon reaching the age limit was accepted by the Holy Father.