Bishop of Ragusa
The Holy Father has appointed Msgr. Giuseppe La Placa, hitherto Vicar General of the Diocese of Caltanissetta, as Bishop of Ragusa. Msgr. La Placa was born on November 16, 1962, in Resuttano, in the Diocese of Caltanissetta. After completing his formation, he was ordained a priest for the same diocese on June 29, 1986. In 1993, he obtained a Licentiate in Theoretical Philosophy from the Pontifical Gregorian University, subsequently pursuing doctoral studies. As a priest, he held the following positions: Parochial Vicar of San Pietro in Caltanissetta (1986–1989); Parochial Vicar of the Mother Church and of the Most Holy Rosary in San Cataldo (1989–1991); Parochial Vicar of San Biagio in Caltanissetta (1993–2002); teacher of philosophy at the P. Mignosi Classical High School and at the Msgr. G. Guttadauro Theological-Pastoral Institute in Caltanissetta (from 1993); Diocesan Assistant for Family Ministry and Diocesan Director of Youth Ministry (1993–1998); Director of the St. Augustine Higher Institute of Religious Sciences (1995–2001); Chaplain to the Poor Clares (1998–2002); Prefect of the Msgr. G. Guttadauro Theological-Pastoral Institute and member of the Faculty Council of the Pontifical Theological Faculty of Sicily (2000–2006); and Parish Priest of Santo Spirito in Caltanissetta (2002–2006). Furthermore, he served as: Spiritual Assistant to the Notre Dame family group (from 2002); administrator of the John Paul II Catholic School in Caltanissetta (from 2003); and Pro-Vicar General of Caltanissetta (2006–2009). Since 2006, he has served as a Canon of the Caltanissetta Cathedral, Diocesan Head of Ongoing Clergy Formation, Director of the Diocesan Office for Social Communications, Diocesan Assistant for AGESCI, and Editor-in-Chief of the diocesan periodicals *L’Aurora* and *Monitore Diocesano*; he has been the Diocesan Delegate for FIES since 2008 and Vicar General since 2009. He is a member of the College of Consultors, the Diocesan Presbyteral Council, the Diocesan Pastoral Council, the Regional Commission for Ongoing Clergy Formation, and the Sicilian Presbyteral Commission; he also serves as Chaplain to the Franciscan Sisters of Iuculia and Director of the Clergy House in Caltanissetta. He is a member of the Community of the Children of God (*Comunità dei Figli di Dio*), a public association founded by Fr. Divo Barsotti.