Elected today by a two-thirds majority, he was regional superior in Japan. Before that, he was an educator (1989-1993) in Ducenta, Italy, and a teacher at the seminary in Pune, India.

Rome (AsiaNews) - Fr Ferruccio Brambillasca was elected PIME Superior General today with a two-thirds majority.

Born in Monza (Italy) on June 11 1964, he was the regional superior in Japan, where he has lived since 1998.

A graduate in dogmatic theology in Naples, he has been a priest for 24 years, working for several years (1989-1993) as an educator in Ducenta (Italy), and teaching at a seminary in Pune (India).

In his acceptance speech, he said, "I ask for your prayers and cooperation. I would also like to thank Fr Zanchi."

The new vicar general is Fr Davide Sciocco, a missionary and regional superior in Guinea Bissau. Born on 17 December 1963 in Parabiago (Milan, Italy), he has been a priest for 25 years. He was involved in a number of educational activities in Italy (1988-1991), where he later became the director of the Missionary Centre in Milan (2004-2007). In Guinea Bissau, he was a missionary from 1992 to 2004 and then from 2007 to 2013. During his stay in the West African nation, he established Radio Sol Mansi, a national Catholic radio.

The three other members of the Directorate General were elected in the afternoon.

The second member, Fr Gabriel Amal Costa, was born in Narayangoni (Bangladesh), on 1 January 1961. He was the first Bangladeshi to join the institute in 1996. He has been a priest for 16 years. Between 1998 and 2003, he worked in the Ivory Coast. Eventually, he became the vice rector and in 2008 the rector of the International Theological Seminary in Monza.

The third member is Fr Marco Monti, a missionary in Thailand since 2001. Born on 7 January 1964 in Bovisio Masciago (Varese, Italy), he has been a member of the Institute since 1999. From 1999 to 2001, he was a member of the Lay Missionary Delegation (LMD). Before joining PIME, he obtained a degree in Business and Economics, and worked as a teacher. He is a member of the General Council on the Economy.

The fourth elected member is Fr Paolo Ballan, a missionary in Bangladesh since 2003. Fr Ballan was born in Cassano Magnano (Milan, Italy) on 23 June 1965 and has been a priest for 10 years. He is the youngest member of the Directorate General.

The average age of the newly elected Directorate General is 49 years and a half. The average age of PIME members is 60 years and a half.

 

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