Pope names new Patriarch of Venice

The Holy Father has named Francesco Moraglia, bishop of La Spezia-Sarzana-Brugnato, as Patriarch of Venice.

The newly appointed Patriarch was born in Genoa, and was ordained there in 1977. After receiving his doctorate in Sacred Theology from the Pontifical University Urbaniana, he taught at the Archdiocesan Major Seminary in Genoa while also serving as an associate pastor in a parish in the city.

Moraglia also held positions as Professor of Dogmatic Theology at the Theological Faculty of Northern Italy, and as professor, and later Dean, at the Ligurian Institute of Religious Studies. He also directed the Diocesan Office for Culture and the “Didascaleion” Centre for Studies.

He was appointed Bishop of La Spezia-Sarzana-Brugnato in 2007, and received episcopal ordination from the Archbishop of Genoa, Cardinal Angelo Bagnasco.