Salerno, the Pope appoints new bishop

Don Alfonso Raimocurrent Vicar General of‘Archdiocese of Salerno-Campagna-Acernowill be nominated auxiliary bishop and Pope Bergoglio. The announcement was made official today in the Curia in Salerno by the archbishop Andrea Bellandi who for the occasion convened at the Salone degli Stemmi in via Roberto il Guiscardo, through the secretary Don Michele RomeoEpiscopal Vicars, College of Consultors, Forane Vicars, Presbyteral Council and Metropolitan Chapter “for important communications regarding diocesan life”. He was assigned the titular seat of Termini Imerese.

The city of celebrates Eboli whose son is Don Alfonso Raimo whose priesthood began far away, from high school until he was very young in the role of catechist in the Parish of the Madonna delle Grazie. Hence the vocational call to the seminary of Naples, with in particular theology studies. He then carried out his pastoral mission in the Irno Valley and also as Missionary in Africa. Four years after his appointment as Vicar General at the Archdiocese of Salerno-Campagna-Acerno today the communication from Archbishop Bellandi of the Pope’s nomination of Don Alfonso Raimo as auxiliary bishop.

«The Holy Father considered, with this decision, to give a sign of affectionate closeness to our Archdiocese, rich in a glorious past, also guarding the remains of the Holy Apostle and evangelist Matthew, but open to the missionary challenges of the present time. – observed Archbishop Monsignor Andrea Bellandi – Among these, in fact, the growing presence in our territory of people from other countries in the world should also be considered. Furthermore, due to the vastness and versatility of the Archdiocese, which extends over 40 Municipalities and two Provinces, the presence of an auxiliary Bishop could certainly be of fruitful assistance to the pastoral ministry of the current Archbishop, to whom he is also linked by feelings of profound esteem and agreement of views. On the other hand, the Code of Canon Law (can. 403 §1) provides that, at the request of the diocesan Bishop, one or more auxiliary bishops be established when the pastoral needs of the diocese suggest it.».

«We remember – continues Monsignor Bellandi – cthat in our Region the Archbishop of Naples also makes use of the collaboration of three auxiliary bishops, appointed by the Holy Father in September 2021. We are therefore extremely pleased, as an Archdiocese, that Pope Francis has accepted our request and has given the Church of Salerno a Auxiliary bishop of great human, intellectual and pastoral sensitivity like Don Alfonso, who will certainly be able to give an absolutely precious and significant contribution to it».