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Published on December 10, 2023
Pope Francis Appoints Multi-Lingual Brazilian Clergyman as New Auxiliary Bishop for Boston ArchdioceseSource: Archdiocese of Boston

Pope Francis has named 47-year-old Cristiano Guilherme Borro Barbosa, a Brazilian-born clergyman with a hefty resume that includes psychology and theology, as the new auxiliary bishop for the bustling Boston Archdiocese, Cardinal Sean O'Malley relayed on Saturday morning. Bishop-elect Barbosa, fluent in English, Spanish, and Portuguese, will share the responsibility of guiding nearly 1.8 million Catholics in the region, according to CBS News Boston.

Bishop-elect Barbosa has roots deeply planted within Massachusetts, having served in local parishes across Cambridge and Lowell, and his ordained history runs deep. Beginning in 2007, Bishop-elect Barbosa's journey intertwines closely with the local Brazilian community, which stands nearly 64,000 strong, as he served as their chaplain from 2008 to 2019. This was highlighted in a statement from Cardinal O'Malley, who spoke to the value of Bishop-elect Barbosa's expansive parish experience and theological expertise, according to the National Catholic Register.

Currently serving the central region of Boston as episcopal vicar as well as the archdiocesan secretary for evangelization and catechesis, roles he will continue post-ordination, Bishop-elect Barbosa has been recognized for his commitment to fostering unity and peace within the Church, as noted in his humbled response to the papal appointment. "I am happy if I can serve in love God and his people," Barbosa said in a statement obtained by the Archdiocese of Boston.

Adding to multiple academic accolades such as a licentiate and doctorate in theology from Boston College, Bishop-elect Barbosa is set to take on his new role in February, under the guidance of Cardinal O'Malley, with hopes to further enrich the cultural diversity of the archdiocese with his appointment by Pope Francis that has also stationed him in the titular see of Membressa, Bishop-elect Barbosa, a true polyglot comes as a bridge between cultures and faiths in an ever-diversifying ecclesiastical landscape, affirmed by his past role as faculty at Pope John XIII National Seminary in Weston and St. John Seminary in Brighton up until earlier this year, and his recent incardination into the archdiocese in 2021.