Pope appoints new bishop in Papua New Guinea

Pope Francis on Friday appointed a new bishop to a Diocese in Papua New Guinea.  Fr. Pedro Baquero, ‎the 46-year old Philippine-born Superior of the Salesian Vice-province of Papua New Guinea–Solomon ‎Islands, is the new bishop of Kerema.   The diocese has been without a bishop since April 29, 2013, ‎after the death of Bishop Patrick Taval.  ‎

The Salesian priest was born in Manila (Philippines) on September 15, 1970.  After his primary and ‎secondary school with the Salesians Pampanga‎, he entered the Salesian novitiate in 1989 and made his ‎first profession the following year and perpetual profession in 1998. After completing his philosophy ‎and theology studies in Manila he was ordained a priest in 1999.  From the period of his practical ‎training he followed the missionary vocation ad gentes and worked in Papua New Guinea in various ‎capacities.  Fr. Pedro served as the Salesian Superior Delegate of Papua New Guinea – Solomon Islands ‎from 2014-2016, until the Salesian jurisdiction was raised to the rank of Salesian Vice-province, of ‎which he was appointed the Superior.