As Apostolic Vicar of Northern Arabia, Fr. Aldo Berardi was ordained by Pope Francis As Apostolic Vicar of Northern Arabia, Fr. Aldo Berard was ordained by Pope Francis

KUWAIT CITY: Pope Francis has appointed Monsignor Aldo Berardi (OSST) as Vicar Apostolic for Northern Arabia. The Pope gave Monsignor Aldo Berardi the responsibility of the Catholic Churches in Bahrain, Kuwait, Qatar and Saudi Arabia. Born in Longueville-les-Metz (France) in 1963, Aldo Berardi joined the Trinitarian Order in 1979. He was ordained a priest in 1991. After his studies in Rome, he was active in pastoral and charity fields in Italy and France. Worked in Northern Arabia Vicariate from 2007 to 2019. The new appointment comes as he serves as Vicar General of the Trinitarian Congregation in Rome from 2019 to 2023.

The said post had become vacant after the death of Bishop Camillo Balin on 12 April 2020. On January 28, Pope Francis appointed Aldo Berard as the new Vicar Apostolic for Northern Arabia.

Apostolic Administrator Bishop Paul Hinder said in a video message that he is confident that the North Arabia Vicariate will grow further under his pastoral guidance.

Apostolic Vicar-Elect Aldo Berardi will be installed as bishop at the Cathedral of Our Lady of Arabia in Awali (Bahrain). The date of his consecration and ordination will be announced soon. Bishop Paul Hinder also announced that he will continue as apostolic administrator until the bishop-elect is ordained and assumes the office of bishop.