The Episcopal Ordination and Installaion of H.E. Bishop Aldo Berardi, O.SS.T. as the Second Apostolic Vicar of Northern Arabia took place at the Cathedral of Our Lady of Arabia, Awali, Bahrain on 18th March 2023. Msgr. Aldo succeeds the late Bishop Camillo Ballin M.C.C.J, who passed away on 12th April 2020. The announcement of the appointment of Msgr. Berardi was made by His Holiness Pope Francis on 28th January 2023 in Rome.
Cardinal Miguel Angel Ayuso Guixot, MCCJ, the Prefect of the Dicastery of Interreligious Dialogue of the
Holy See was the principal consecrator of the ceremony. He was joined by co-consecrators Archbishop
Eugene Nugent, the Apsotolic Nuncio to Bahrain, Kuwait and Qatar and Bishop Paul Hinder, Aposotlic
Administrator of Northern Arabia.
Also present on the occasion were Bishop Paolo Martinelli, Apostolic Vicar of Southern Arabia, Bishop Claudio Lurati, Apostolic Vicar of Alexandria in Egypt, Bishop Jean-Pierre Vuillemin Auxiliary Bishop of Metz and Bishop Joseph Naffah, Patriarchal Visitator of Maronites in the Arabian Gulf.
There were 80 priests, among whom were several members of the Trinitarian Order to which Bishop Aldo belongs; several religious sisters and approximately 2,500 faithful.
In his inaugural address, Bishop Berardi made a special note of thanks to Bishop Paul Hinder who served as the Apostolic Administrator of the Northern Vicariate till the present. Looking forward, he said, "Challenges await us, but we will face them with courage and perseverance."
Please keep Bishop Aldo in your prayers as he embarks on this important new chapter in his ministry.
H.E. Bishop Aldo Berardi, O.SS.T.
