Bishop Giovanni Massaro

The Holy Father has accepted the resignation from the pastoral governance of the Diocese of Avezzano presented by Msgr. Pietro Santoro and has appointed Msgr. Giovanni Massaro, hitherto Vicar General of the Diocese of Andria, as Bishop of Avezzano. Msgr. Massaro was born on June 28, 1967, in Andria (in the province of Barletta-Andria-Trani and the Diocese of Andria). After attending the Episcopal Seminary of Andria, he continued his formation at the "Pio XI" Pontifical Regional Seminary of Puglia in Molfetta and obtained a Baccalaureate in Theology from the Theological Institute of Puglia. He was ordained a priest for the Diocese of Andria on December 5, 1992. From 1991 to 1993, he served as parochial vicar of the Saint Richard Parish in Andria; from 1993 to 2009, he was vice-rector and bursar of the Episcopal Seminary of Andria; from 2002 to 2007, he served as diocesan director of the Office for Missionary Activity; and he has served as Moderator of the Curia since 2007 and as Vicar General since 2009. In addition to his role as Vicar General, Msgr. Massaro is also the regional spiritual assistant for the MEIC (Ecclesial Movement for Cultural Commitment), director of the diocesan Catechetical Office, editor-in-chief of the diocesan monthly *Insieme*, and administrator of the Madonna della Grazia Parish in Andria.