Pope appoints successor to Buenos Aires

(Vatican Radio) In the first episcopal appointment since his election to the papacy, Pope Francis has appointed his successor to the Archdiocese of Buenos Aires Argentina. On March 28, the Holy Father named bishop Mario Aurelio Poli, Metropolitan Archbishop of the Archdiocese of Buenos Aires in Argentina, transferring him from the Diocese of Santa Rosa.


Bishop Poli was born in Buenos Aires on November 29, 1947. He completed his primary education in State schools and in the parish secondary school of San Pedro Apostol. He graduated from the Faculty of Law and Social Sciences at the University of Buenos Aires. At the age of 22 he entered the Metropolitan Seminary of Buenos Aires where he studied philosophy and theology and was ordained a priest on 25 November 1978, with incardination in Buenos Aires. He holds a doctorate in theology from the Pontifical Catholic University of Argentina.


As a priest he held the following posts: assistant priest in the parish of San Cayetano (1978-1980); Rector of the Major Seminary (1980-1987), chaplain of Siervas del Espíritu Santo (1988-1991), chaplain of the lay Association Fraternidades y Agrupaciones Santo Tomás de Aquino (1988-1992). He was also Director of the Vocational Institute "San José" (preparatory course for the Major Seminary). He was a member of the Board of Consultants and the Council of Priests. Since 1980 he has taught Church History in the Faculty of Theology at the Pontifical Catholic University of Argentina.


On 8 February 2002 he was appointed Titular Bishop of Abidda and Auxiliary Bishop of Buenos Aires, continuing to teach. He received episcopal ordination on 20 April 2002. On 24 June 2008 he was appointed resident Bishop of the Diocese of Santa Rosa.


Within the Episcopal Conference of Argentina has been a member of the Episcopal Commission for Catholic Education and the Commission for Ministries. He is currently Chairman of the Episcopal Commission for Catechesis and Bible studies.