Bishop of Ilhéus
Bishop Giovanni Crippa was born on 6 October 1958 in Besana Brianza, in the metropolitan archdiocese of Milan. He carried out his studies in philosophy at the Federazione Interreligiosa per gli Studi Teologici (FIST) in Turin (1987-1993) and in theology at the Pontifical Gregorian University in Rome, where he was awarded a licentiate and a doctorate in ecclesiastical history. On 13 September 1981 he gave his religious vows in the Institute of the Consolata Missionaries, and on 14 September 1985 he received priestly ordination. He served as missionary and vocational animator in Turin (1987-1993), professor in the Faculty of Missiology of the Pontifical Urban University in Rome and of the Istituto Superiore di Catechesi e Spiritualità Missionaria in Rome and in Castel Gandolfo (1993-2000). He was sent to Brazil in 2000, where he carried out his ministry in the metropolitan archdiocese of Feira da Santana, State of Bahia, as parish vicar and parish priest of the Santíssima Trindade, lecturer in ecclesiastical history of the archdiocesan faculty, spiritual director of the seminary of philosophy, and member of the Presbyteral Council and of the College of Consultors. In addition, he was a member of the coordination group of the Historical Department of the Institute of Consolata Missions and provincial counsellor in Brazil. On 21 March 2012 he was appointed as titular bishop of Accia and auxiliary of São Salvador da Bahia, receiving episcopal ordination the following 13 May. On 19 July 2014 he was appointed as bishop of Estância. Within the National Conference of Bishops of Brazil he is member of the Episcopal Pastoral Commission for Missionary Action.