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Bangalore 3 July, 2018 (CCBI): His Holiness Pope Francis has accepted the resignation of His Excellency Most Rev. Aloysius Paul D’Souza from the pastoral care of the Diocese of Mangalore, according to Canon Law 401 § 1, and has appointed Rev. Fr. Peter Paul Saldanha (54), of the clergy of Mangalore, until now Professor at the Pontifical Urbanian University in Rome, as the new Bishop of Mangalore. This ecclesiastical provision was made public in Rome on Tuesday, 3rd July, 2018, at noon local time, corresponding to 15:30 hours, Indian Standard Time.

He is the 14th Bishop of the Diocese.It has 2,48,860 Catholics in 124 Parishes. Present Bishop Aloysius Paul DSouza has served the diocese for 22 years. He will continue to be the Apostolic Administrator till the new Bishop takes the charge as the Bishop of Mangalore.
The Date of the Episcopal ordination and the Installation will be announced later.

Rev. Fr. Peter Paul Saldanha was born in Kinnigoli, Diocese of Mangalore, on 27 April, 1964. After his primary and secondary education in his village, he did his philosophy and theology at St. Joseph’s Interdiocesan Seminary, Jeppu, Mangalore, and obtained a diploma in Depth Psychology and Formation, from the Institute for Formators, Bangalore, in 1994. He was ordained Priest on 6 May, 1991, for the Diocese of Mangalore. He also obtained a doctorate in theology from the Pontifical Urbanian University, Rome, in 2005.

He served the Diocese in the following ministries: Assistant Parish Priest at St. Lawrence’s Church, Moodubelle (1991-1992); Assistant Parish Priest at Our Lady of Miracles Church, Milagres (1992-1994); Assistant Parish Priest at Our Lady of Dolours Church, Vittal (1994-1996); Teacher and Formator at St. Joseph’s Interdiocesan Seminary, Jeppu (1996-1999) and at the same time, Vice Rector of the same Seminary (1997-1999). From 1999 to 2005 he did his studies in Rome, and on his return he was appointed Professor at St. Joseph’s Interdiocesan Seminary, Jeppu (2005-2010), and from 2008-2010 also Vice Rector of the same Seminary. Since 2010 he is Professor of Dogmatic Theology at the Pontifical Urbanian University, Rome. From 2011-2015, he was Spiritual Father at the Pontificio Collegio Urbano De Propaganda Fide, Rome. On 14 March, 2015 the Holy Father appointed him as Consultor of the General Secretariat of the Synod of Bishops, and in July 2015 he was appointed as Adiutor Secretarii Specialis of the XIV Ordinary General Assembly of the Synod of Bishops.