Manama, Bahrain - The Episcopal Ordination and installation of Msgr. Aldo Berardi O.SS.T as the Apostolic Vicar of Northern Arabia (AVONA) took place on 18 March 2023. The Holy Mass of the ordination ceremony was celebrated at 10 am at the Cathedral of Our Lady of Arabia, Awali, Bahrain.
The solemn ceremony was attended by around 3000 people. The faithful recited prayers from the Special mass booklets printed for the event enabling them to take part prayerfully in the celebration.
The announcement of the appointment of Bishop Berardi was made by His Holiness Pope Francis on 28 January 2023 in Rome. Bishop Aldo Berardi succeeded the late Bishop Camillo Ballin M.C.C.J, who passed away on 12 April 2020.
His Eminence Cardinal Miguel Angel Ayuso Guixot, M.C.C.J. (Prefect of the Dicastery for Interreligious Dialogue of the Holy See) was the principal consecrator of the ceremony. His Grace Archbishop Eugene Martin Nugent (Apostolic Nuncio to Bahrain, Kuwait and Qatar) and His Excellency Bishop Paul Hinder OFM Cap. (Apostolic Vicar Emeritus and the present Apostolic Administrator) were the co-consecrators at the ceremony.
His Excellency Bishop Paolo Martinelli also participated in the ceremony.
A vigil service of prayer for the bishop-elect was held at the Cathedral of Our Lady of Arabia from 6 pm to 7 pm on Friday 17 March.
Following the installation, His Excellency Bishop Aldo Berardi O.SS.T celebrated a Mass of thanksgiving at the Sacred Heart Church, Manama on 19 March at 5.30 pm.
The solemn event was also broadcast live on the website of the Apostolic Vicariate of Northern Arabia, www.avona.org.
Resurrexit, sicut dixit - episcopal motto of H.E Bishop Aldo Berardi O.SS.T
H.E Bishop Aldo Berardi O.SS.T belongs to the Order of the Most Holy Trinity and of the Captives (the Trinitarian Order). It is a religious family founded by St. John of Matha and St. Felix of Valois at the end of the 12th century. Redemption and mercy are at the heart of the Trinitarian charism and members of the Order wear a distinctive cross of red and blue that can be traced to its very beginnings.
Bishop Berardi was born in Longeville-lès-Metz (France) on 30th September 1963. After joining the Trinitarian Order at the age of 23, he was ordained a priest on 20 July 1991. He obtained a Licentiate in Moral Theology in 1992 and served as Director of the Spirituality Centre in Cerfoid (France) from 1992 to 1998. He directed the Centre Sainte Bakhita in Cairo (Egypt), which sheltered Sudanese refugees from 2000 to 2006. From 2007 to 2019, he served in the Apostolic Vicariate of Northern Arabia, including Sacred Heart Church, Manama (2007 - 2010).
Prior to his appointment as the Apostolic Vicar, Bishop Berardi served as the Vicar General of the Order, President of the General Secretariat of Formation and Legal Representative of the Congregation’s Generalate from 2019 to 2023.
Bishop Aldo Berardi chose as his episcopal motto, the announcement of the Resurrection of Jesus Christ in Mt. 28,6: “Resurrexit, sicut dixit” (“He is risen, as He said”).
Throughout his religious life, he has had great devotion to the Risen Christ, who plunges human beings into the fullness of Trinitarian life, and therefore into love.