Pope Francis Establishes Bentiu Diocese, Appoints Bishop

Pope Francis has established the Catholic Diocese of Bentiu in Unity State, South Sudan, and appointed Bishop Christian Carlassare, who is currently serving as the Local Ordinary of the country’s Rumbek Diocese as its Bishop.

The establishment of new Catholic Diocese in  Bentiu was made public by the Holy See Press office on Wednesday, July 3.

Pope Francis erected the Diocese of Bentiu with territory dismembered from the Diocese of Malakal, making it a suffragan of the Metropolitan Archdiocese of Juba.

Bishop Carlassare, who has been at the helm of Rumbek Diocese since his Episcopal Ordination in March 2022, was born in the Diocese of Vicenza in Italy in October 1977. He was ordained a Priest of the Comboni Missionaries of the Heart of Jesus in September 2004.

In 2005, he was sent on a mission to South Sudan where he held various positions including, Deputy Parish Priest, Parish Priest, Vocations Promoter, and Director of the orientation course for the Comboni Missionaries.

He also served as a member of the Secretariat of Vocational Animation and Basic Training, Councilor Provincial of the Comboni Missionaries, and Vice-Provincial of the Province of the Comboni Missionaries in South Sudan.

The Native of Italy served as Vicar General of the Diocese of Malakal before being elected as the Bishop of Rumbek in March 2021follwoed by his consecration in March 2022.