Abu Dhabi - His Excellency Bishop Paolo Martinelli OFM Cap. was installed as the new Apostolic Vicar of Southern Arabia on Saturday 2 July 2022 during the installation Holy Mass held at St. Joseph’s Cathedral Abu Dhabi at 6:15 pm.

Bishop Paul Hinder, Apostolic Vicar Emeritus of Southern Arabia and Msgr. Kryspin Dubiel, the Charge D'Affaires of the Embassy of the Holy See to the UAE, almost 80 priests and religious sisters of the Vicariate participated in the installation ceremony alongwith the faithful.

The Apostolic Vicariate of Southern Arabia is a territorial jurisdiction of the Catholic Church covering the countries of United Arab Emirates, Oman and Yemen.

Bishop Paolo Martinelli succeeds HE Bishop Paul Hinder, who served as the shepherd of the Catholic faithful who live in the countries of UAE, Oman and Yemen for 18 years. He arrived in Abudhabi on 28th June and was received by the faithful as they cheered for him creating a festive atmosphere.

Fr. Valerian Fernandes, the Chancellor and Judicial Vicar of the Vicariate read the Apostolic letter of appointment and presented it to Bishop Martinelli.

Bishop Paul Hinder invited Bishop Paolo Martinelli to assume office as the Apostolic Vicar and to be seated on the Cathedra (the raised throne of a bishop)

Selected priests, religious and faithful also received the copy of Bishop Palio’s inaugural address.

“Dear brothers and sisters,” said Bishop Martinelli while delivering his inaugural message during the Installation Mass, “I want to put Paschal Joy at the core of my ministry. To quote the great Apostle: “We do not intend to be masters over your faith; instead, we are the collaborators of your joy”!

The Holy Mass ended with the Apostolic blessing of the newly installed Bishop.

The ceremony was broadcast live on the website of the Catholic Church in the UAE, Oman and Yemen www.avosa.org

Bishop Martinelli who hails from Milan, Italy, joined the Capuchin order and made his religious profession on 8 September 1980. He holds a licentiate in fundamental theology (1990) and a Doctorate in theology.

He was a member of the faculty of Theology at the Pontifical Gregorian University (since 1992) and at the Pontifical University of Antonianum (since 1993), where he was also the Dean of the Franciscan Institute of Spirituality (2004-2014).

Since 2006, he was also the Consultor of the Congregation for the Institutes of Consecrated Life and Societies of Apostolic Life, since 2009 the Consultor of the General Secretariat of the Synod of Bishops. Since 2012, he has been a Consultor of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith.

He was ordained bishop in the Cathedral in Milan on 28 June 2014 and chose as his episcopal motto, “Gloria Dei vivens homo” (The glory of God is man fully Alive).

He is also a member of the Italian Bishops Conference since 2015 and was elected the President of the Episcopal Commission for the Clergy and Consecrated Life of the conference in 2021.

Bishop Martinelli has also authored and edited several books and articles on spiritual theology and the various vocations in the Church.

Click here to access the full text of the Inaugural Message of Bishop Paolo Martinelli.