Pope Francis has appointed as bishop of the Diocese of Sibolga, Indonesia, the Reverend Fransiskus Tuaman Sinaga of the clergy of the same diocese, until now director of the Dian Mandala Diocesan Pastoral Institute on the Island of Nias.
Msgr. Fransiskus Tuaman Sinaga was born on November 22, 1972, in Penggalangan, in the metropolitan archdiocese of Medan. After attended local elementary and middle schools, he continued his studies in the minor seminary and completed his philosophical and theological studies in the Interdiocesan Major Seminary of Pematangsiantar.
He was ordained a priest on February 14, 2003, for the diocese of Sibolga.
He served as parish vicar in Gunungsitoli, Island of Nias (2003-2005); formator in the minor seminary of Sibolga (2005-2007), before obtaining a licentiate in moral theology at the Pontifical Urban University of Rome (2007-2009). He went on to serve as parish priest in Gunungsitoli and vicar forane for the Island of Nias (2009-2013). From 2015 until the present he has been director of Dian Mandala Diocesan Pastoral Institute of the Island of Nias. He is also chair of the Diocesan Priestly Union and diocesan director of the Pontifical Mission Societies.
Resignation of bishop of Matadi, Democratic Republic of the Congo
The Holy Father also has accepted the resignation from the pastoral care of the Diocese of Matadi, Democratic Republic of the Congo, presented by Bishop Daniel Nlandu Mayi.
The episcopal appointments were announced by the Vatican. Pope Francis currently is on his apostolic journey to Iraq from March 5-8.
