By CISA
BENGHAZI, JULY 18, 2023 (CISA)-Pope Francis has appointed Fr Sandro Overend Rigilio, O.F.M., apostolic administrator of the vicariate of Benghazi, Libya, as vicar apostolic for Benghazi.
The 64 year old member of Order of Friars Minor has been serving as the Apostolic Administrator for Benghazi since December 8 2019 after the late Bishop Sylvester Carmel Magro O.F.M retired on February 14, 2016.
The elect was born on May 31, 1959 in Silema, archdiocese of Malta. He attended his studies in philosophy and theology at the National Institute of Ecclesiastical and Religious Studies of Malta and the Antonianum Theological Institute of Bologna.
He was ordained a priest on June 29 1984.
Fr Sandro Overend Rigilio first held the office of deputy parish priest of the parish of Our Lady of Sacred Heart of Sliema and spiritual director in Maltese state schools (1984-1993). He then studied for a licentiate in theology and patristic sciences at the Augustinianum, Rome (1993-1996).
From 1996 to 2003, he served as vice rector and then rector of the International College for Franciscan Students of the Antonianum of Rome before becoming the secretary general of the Order of Friars Minor (2003-2006).
From 2006 to 2008 he held position as deputy parish priest of Lady of Sacred Heart in Sliema and visiting professor of patristics at the University of Malta and thereafter minister of the Maltese Province of the Friars Minor (2008-2014).
He was also a confessor at the Shrine of Gethsemane, Jerusalem (2014-2015).
In 2015 he became visitator general of the Franciscan Province of Saint Casimir in Lithuania; guardian of the Curia General O.F.M. and delegate of the minister general O.F.M. for Franciscan missions in Libya (2015-2018).
Besides being the apostolic administrator the apostolic vicariate of Benghazi, he also served as the apostolic administrator of Derna in Libya since December 8, 2019.
