The capuchin bishop from Italy has been appointed as the new Apostolic Vicar of the Apostolic Vicariate of Southern Arabia.
Bishop Paolo Martinelli was appointed Apostolic Vicar for the Apostolic Vicariate of Southern Arabia (Arabian Peninsula) by Pope Francis on May 1, making him the successor of Capuchin Bishop Paul Hinder, who had been invited to resign because of his 75-year-old age.
He was born on October 22, 1958, in Milan, Italy.
In 1978, Bishop Martinelli entered the Capuchin Friars Minor Order in the province of San Carlo in Lombardy.
On December 23, 1984, he received his perpetual vows as a member of the Order of Friars Minor Capuchins at the age of 26.
As a priest, he was ordained on September 7, 1985, and he taught theology at several pontifical universities.
On May 24, 2014, he was appointed Auxiliary Bishop of Milan, and on June 28, 2014, he was ordained as an episcopal hierarch in the Metropolitan Cathedral-Basilica.
He served as episcopal vicar in Milan for consecrated life and school pastoral care.
The Italian Bishops’ Conference (Conferenza Episcopale Italiana-CEI) has also named him a delegate for consecrated ministry and pastoral care of the sick.
During his time at the CEI, he served as president of the Episcopal Commission for Clergy and Consecrated Life.
In addition, he has served in numerous Vatican congregations.
The Archbishop of Milan, Mario Delpini, announced Bishop Martinelli's appointment on Sunday explaining that he would be responsible for the Catholic faithful in a very large area, primarily migrant workers from Asian countries.
A total of 43 million people inhabit the Territories of the United Arab Emirates, Oman, and Yemen.
The Archdiocese of Milan and the Bishops' Conference of Lombardy expressed their gratitude and appreciation to Bishop Martinelli on behalf of Archbishop Delpini. - With inputs by Anbu Selvam
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