Successor to Msgr. Aguirre, Comboni Bishop of the Diocese of Bangassou, Announced

Bishop Aurelio Gazzera’s ascends to the helm of the Central African Diocese over two years after the late Pope Francis appointed him Coadjutor Bishop of the Diocese, granting him the “right of succession” in accordance with Canon 403 §3 of the Code of Canon Law. Pope Francis’ announcement, made public on 23 February 2024, had set the stage for the canonical transition in the leadership of the CAR Catholic Diocese, which is part of the Bangui Metropolitan See. At the time of his appointment, Bishop Gazzero, then Fr. Gazzera, served as the Director of Caritas in the Catholic Diocese of Bouar.

Reacting to the news of his appointment, Bishop Gazzera promised to promote dialogue with various rebel groups operating in the country, noting that he seeks to be a “symbol of peace” in his leadership. In a report by the Catholic Pontifical and charity foundation, Aid to the Church in Need (ACN) International on 4 March 2024, Bishop Gazzera said CAR remains “very difficult and unstable” as the situation is still “precarious in large parts of the country.”

“I will try to listen to everyone and, with my limited powers, to be a symbol of peace,” he said, adding, “I will do everything I can to continue the dialogue with the various rebel groups, and I will talk with those who are giving expression – although of course in the wrong way – to their expectations of the government and the international community.”

Bishop Gazzera, who is widely known for his peace efforts in the country, said that it was his responsibility as a religious leader to seek peace. “As a priest, as a pastor and as a bishop, everything that hurts or affects my brothers and sisters also hurts me. So I had the responsibility as a priest – and now I have it even more as a bishop – to look after and protect the people in my care,” he said. He added, “The shepherd not only accompanies his sheep, but also defends them from dangers.”

Born in May 1964 in Cuneo, Italy, Bishop Gazzera entered the Minor Seminary of the Order of Discalced Carmelites (OCD) of Arenzano in 1974. In 1979, he made his first profession in the same Religious Order, as a member of the OCD Province of Genoa. After seven years of initial formation, including one year in CAR OCD Delegation, he made his perpetual profession in October 1986.

Bishop Gazzera was ordained a Priest in May 1989 after completing his philosophical and theological studies at the Theological Faculty of Northern Italy-Genoa Section. As a Priest, he has served in various capacities, including assistant at the Minor Seminary of Yole; Director of the first cycle of the same Minor Seminary; and the Parish Priest of San Michele di Bozoum. Bishop Gazzera also served as CAR OCD Superior, in charge of the Christians of the savannah villages, and Director of the Baoro Mechanical School, among other responsibilities.

He succeeds Bishop Aguirre Muñoz, who started his Episcopal Ministry in Bangassou Diocese, first as Coadjutor Bishop in May 1998, and later, on 21 December 2000, succeeded Bishop Antoine Marie Maanicus upon his passing.

Bishop Gazzera serves as the immediate collaborator of the Spanish-born member of the Comboni Missionaries (MCCJ) in the Diocese that measures 134,284 square kilometres with a population of 85,244 Catholics representing 14.1 per cent of the total population, according to the 2023 statistics. Erected in June 1954 as the Vicariate Apostolic of Bangui before being elevated to a Diocese in February 1964, Bangassou Diocese is part of the Ecclesiastical province of Bangui.

Silas Isenjia – ACI Africa