Angelo Moreschi S.D.B. (13 June 1952 – 25 March 2020) was an Italian missionary of the Catholic Church who spent his career in Ethiopia. He was prefect apostolic of Gambella, and became vicar apostolic there when he became a bishop in 2010.
Biography
editMoreschi was born in Nave, Italy, on 13 June 1952.[1] He took his first vows as a member of the Salesians of Don Bosco on 1 September 1974 and his final vows on 15 August 1980.[2] He attended seminary in Chiari and studied theology in Bethlehem.[3] He was ordained a priest on 2 October 1982.[1]
He spent his career in Ethiopia, where he was Provincial Councilor for the Vice-Province Africa Ethiopia-Eritrea from 1998 to 2001 and pastor in Dilla, South Ethiopia, from 1991 to 2000.[4] On 25 November 2000, Pope John Paul II named him the first Prefect of Gambella, Ethiopia.[5] On 5 December 2009, Pope Benedict XVI named him Apostolic Vicar of the newly created Apostolic Vicariate of Gambella and titular bishop of Elephantaria in Mauretania.[1] He received his episcopal consecration on 31 January 2010.[4]
Moreschi had diabetes and underwent a foot amputation. He was in Italy for treatment and was undergoing dialysis when he developed a fever and respiratory problems around 19 March. He was briefly hospitalized, and died at the Salesian seminary in Brescia, Italy, on 25 March 2020 from COVID-19.[2][3][6]
References
edit- ^ a b c "Rinunce e Nomine, 05.12.2009" (Press release) (in Italian). Holy See Press Office. 5 December 2009. Retrieved 26 March 2020.
- ^ a b "Fallece el obispo Moreschi, misionero en Etiopía" (in Spanish). Vatican News. 26 March 2020. Retrieved 26 March 2020.
- ^ a b Tedeschi, Massimo. "Addio a mons. Angelo Moreschi per 29 anni angelo degli etiopi". Corriere della Sera (in Italian). Retrieved 26 March 2020.
- ^ a b "Italy – A great Salesian leaves us, due to Covid-19: Msgr. Angelo Moreschi". Agenzia Info Salesian's. 25 March 2020. Retrieved 26 March 2020.
- ^ "Rinunce e Nomine, 25.11.2000" (Press release) (in Italian). Holy See Press Office. 25 November 2000. Retrieved 26 March 2020.
- ^ "First bishop known to die of coronavirus was missionary in Ethiopia". Catholic News Agency. 25 March 2020. Retrieved 26 March 2020.
External links
edit
- Additional sources
- "Etiopia, il vicario arriva in motoscafo". La Stampa (in Italian). 16 July 2012.