Pope Makes Appointments in Brazil, France, Uganda

Announced Thursday, December 9, by the Vatican

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© Vatican Media

Pope Francis made appointments in Brazil, France, and, Uganda, announced by the Vatican on Thursday, December 9.

Resignation and appointment of metropolitan archbishop of Goiânia, Brazil

The Holy Father has accepted the resignation from the pastoral care of the metropolitan archdiocese of Goiânia, Brazil, presented by Bishop Washington Cruz, C.P.

The Holy Father has appointed Bishop João Justino de Medeiros Silva as metropolitan archbishop of Goiânia, Brazil, transferring him from the titular see of Montes Claros.

Bishop João Justino de Medeiros Silva was born on 22 December 1966 in Juiz de Fora, in the State of Minas Gerais.

He studied philosophy (1985-1988) and theology (1988-1992) at the Seminário Santo Antônio of the metropolitan archdiocese of Juiz de Fora. He obtained a baccalaureate in pedagogy at the Centro de Ensino Superior in Juiz de Fora (1988); a baccalaureate and Master’s in social sciences at the Universidade Federal de Juiz de Fora (1992-1993); and a licentiate (1997) and doctorate (2003) in dogmatic theology at the Pontifical Gregorian University in Rome.

He received priestly ordination on 13 December 1992, and was incardinated in the same archdiocese, where he held the following positions: parish vicar; parish priest; regional pastoral coordinator; coordinator of the Presbyteral Council; professor, vice-rector and rector of the Santo Antônio archdiocesan seminary; member of the Presbyteral Council and the College of Consultors; professor and coordinator of the theology course; vicar forane; and episcopal vicar for Culture, Education and Youth. He was also an assessor and later peritus of the Episcopal Commission for the Doctrine of the Faith of the Brazilian Episcopal Conference and secretary of the Organisation of Seminaries and Institutes of Brazil (OSIB) of the Leste 2 Region.

On 21 December 2011 he was elected titular bishop of Tullia and auxiliary of the metropolitan archdiocese of Belo Horizonte, and consecrated the following 11 February.

On 22 February 2017 he was appointed as coadjutor archbishop of Montes Claros, and became ordinary on 21 November 2018.

Within the National Conference of Bishops of Brazil he is president of the Commission for Culture and Education, and member of the Permanent Council.

Resignation and appointment of metropolitan archbishop of Toulouse, France

The Holy Father has accepted the resignation from the pastoral care of the metropolitan archdiocese of Toulouse, France, presented by Bishop Robert Le Gall, O.S.B.


The Holy Father has appointed Bishop Guy de Kerimel of Grenoble-Vienne as archbishop of Toulouse.

Curriculum vitae

Archbishop-elect Guy de Kerimel was born on 7 August 1953 in Meknès, archdiocese of Rabat, Morocco.

He was ordained a priest for the archdiocese of Aix on 29 June 1986.

On 19 February 2001 he was appointed as titular bishop of Casae medianae and auxiliary of Nice, and consecrated the following 7 June. On 6 May 2004 he was appointed as coadjutor of Grenoble, succeeding as bishop on 10 June 2006.

Within the French Episcopal Conference, he has been President of the Episcopal Commission for the Liturgy and Sacramental Pastoral since 2017.

Appointment of metropolitan archbishop of Kampala, Uganda

The Holy Father has appointed Bishop Paul Ssemogerere of Kasana-Luweero as metropolitan archbishop of Kampala, Uganda.