Dhaka: Fr. Francesco Rapaccioli, a veteran missionary who has dedicated years of service in Bangladesh and India, has been chosen as the new Superior General of the Pontifical Institute for Foreign Missions (PIME). His election was finalized during the 16th General Assembly held at the International Center for Missionary Activities in Rome, a pivotal gathering for one of the Catholic Church’s most globally active missionary communities.
Fr. Rapaccioli succeeds Fr. Ferruccio Brambillasca, who completed two consecutive terms as head of the institute, having first taken office in 2013. Under his leadership, PIME expanded its outreach and presence in mission territories across the globe. The transition marks a new era of leadership for an organization whose influence spans 20 countries and over 400 missionaries.
The new Superior General brings with him decades of rich missionary experience, particularly in South Asia. Born in Paris in 1963 and raised in the Italian Diocese of Piacenza-Bobbio, Fr. Rapaccioli entered the priesthood in 1993 after completing his theological studies. His missionary journey began in India in 1997, where he contributed to the formation of future missionaries at the PIME seminary in Pune.
Later, he was sent to Bangladesh, a majority-Muslim nation where he became deeply embedded in the local Church, working primarily in Dhaka. His pastoral mission included not only parish work but also social outreach, especially among those struggling with addiction and poverty. In 2020, he played a key role in establishing rehabilitation programs that helped transform the lives of many battling substance abuse.
Between 2012 and 2018, Fr. Rapaccioli served as the Rector of the PIME International Seminary in Italy, before returning to Bangladesh to resume his missionary work.
PIME, which originated in Italy, continues to maintain a strong missionary presence in India, Algeria, Bangladesh, Brazil, Cambodia, Cameroon, Chad, Guinea-Bissau, Hong Kong, Ivory Coast, Japan, Mexico, Myanmar, Papua New Guinea, the Philippines, and Thailand. The institute is renowned for its commitment to evangelization, social upliftment, and interreligious dialogue, especially in regions marked by cultural and religious diversity.
His election has been welcomed with joy by the missionary community and partner dioceses worldwide. It is expected that under Fr. Rapaccioli’s guidance, PIME will continue to deepen its focus on missionary formation, pastoral care, and outreach to marginalized communities.
As the media arm of PIME, Asia News described his election as a moment of “continuity and renewal” for the mission organization, which has consistently stood at the forefront of Catholic missionary service in Asia and beyond.
Fr. Rapaccioli now steps into this role with a wealth of intercultural experience and a heart shaped by decades of missionary service a shepherd formed in the field, now entrusted to lead a global missionary family.