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March 19, 2023
Bahrain.
The Episcopal Ordination and installation of Msgr. Aldo Berardi O. SS. T. as the Apostolic Vicar of Northern Arabia took place at 10 am on Saturday 18 March 2023 during the Holy Mass which was celebrated at the Cathedral of Our Lady of Arabia, Awali, Bahrain built on the land graciously donated by His Majesty King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa, the King of Bahrain in 2013. Bishop Berardi succeeds the Italian-born Camillo Ballin, who served as Apostolic Vicar from 2011 to 2020.
Cardinal Miguel Angel Ayuso Guixot, the Prefect of the Dicastery of Interreligious Dialogue of the Holy See was the principal consecrator of the ceremony. He was joined by co-consecrators Archbishop Eugene Nugent, the Apostolic Nuncio to Bahrain, Kuwait and Qatar and Bishop Paul Hinder, Apostolic Administrator of Northern Arabia on ordaining Bishop Aldo to the episcopacy.
Other bishops who participated in the liturgy included Bishop Paolo Martinelli, Apostolic Vicar of Southern Arabia, Bishop Claudio Lurati, Apostolic Vicar of Alexandria in Egypt, Bishop Jean-Pierre Vuillemin Auxiliary Bishop of Metz and Bishop Joseph Naffah, Patriarchal Visitator of Maronites in the Arabian Gulf.
Besides the Cardinal and the six Bishops, 80 priests, several religious sisters and around 2,500 faithful were present for the celebration. Among the priests and sisters, several members of the Trinitarian Order, to which Bishop Aldo belongs.
The announcement of the appointment of Msgr. Berardi was made by His Holiness Pope Francis on 28 January 2023 in Rome. Msgr. Aldo succeeds the late Bishop Camillo Ballin M.C.C.J, who passed away on 12 April 2020.
In his speech, Bishop Berardi specially thanked Bishop Paul Hinder, who was serving as the Apostolic Administrator of the Vicariate till the present.
Bishop Aldo Berardi will celebrate a Mass of thanksgiving at the Sacred Heart Church, Manama on 19 March at 5.30 pm.
All the events related to the Ordination are broadcast live on the website of the Apostolic Vicariate of Northern Arabia, www.avona.org.
About Msgr. Aldo Berardi O.SS.T.
Msgr. Aldo 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.
Msgr. Aldo was born in Longeville-lès-Metz (France) on 30th September 1963. After joining the Trinitarian Order at the age of 23, Msgr. Aldo 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, Msgr. Aldo 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.
Msgr. Aldo Berardi has chosen 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, Msgr. Aldo has had a great devotion to the Risen Christ, who plunges human beings into the fullness of Trinitarian life, and therefore into love.
The coat of arms of the new Bishop reflects his background and personality and provides the direction of his episcopal ministry. On the upper part is the Trinitarian cross on a silver background, prominently depicted as tribute to the Trinitarians. The colours red and blue stand for the two natures of Christ: true God and true Man. The silver background signifies purity of faith and religious vows. The gold star symbolises the presence of the Virgin Mary, under the titles of “Queen of Heaven and Earth” and “Our Lady of Good Remedy”, the patroness of the Trinitarian Order.