Bishop of Bentiu
Christian Carlassare is Bishop of Bentiu, South Sudan. Christian Carlassare, M.C.C.J., was born on 1 October 1977 in Schio, Diocese of Vicenza, Italy. After primary and secondary school, he attended an orientation course at the Comboni Missionaries Seminary in Thiene (VI). He completed the postulancy and philosophical studies in Florence at the Theological Faculty of Central Italy and the novitiate in Venegono Superiore (VA). He completed the baccalaureate in Theology at the Pontifical Gregorian University (2000-2003) and the baccalaureate in Missiology at the Pontifical Urbaniana University (2003-2004), in Rome. He made solemn profession in Rome in 2003 and was ordained a priest on 4 September 2004. After ordination he followed an English-language course (2004-2005) and went to South Sudan to learn the Nuer language at Holy Trinity Parish, Old Fangak County (2005-2006). He then held the following offices: vicar (2006-2007) and pastor of the same parish in Jonglei State (2007-2016); member of the secretariat for vocational animation and basic formation (2011-2019); provincial councilor of the Comboni Missionaries in South Sudan (2012-2019); secretary of the provincial council of the Comboni Missionaries (2014-2016); vice-provincial in South Sudan (2017-2019); promoter of vocations and director of the orientation course, pre-postulancy, for the Comboni Missionaries in Moroyok, Juba (2017-2020). From 2020 to 2021 he was vicar general of the Diocese of Malakal. On 8 March 2021 he was elected Bishop of Rumbek and was consecrated on 25 March 2022.