By Arnold Neliba
FEBRUARY 14, 2023 (CISA)-Pope Francis has appointed Fr Bob John Hassan Koroma as the new bishop for the Catholic Diocese of Makeni.
Until his appointment, the bishop-elect was the vicar general and administrator of the Cathedral.
While reacting to the news of the appointment, Bishop Natale Paganelli S.X, the Apostolic administrator of the Catholic Diocese of Makeni since April 11, 2012, said the appointment of a bishop was a much-desired news after 11 years of apostolic administration.
“Father Koroma is a priest appreciated by all, I can truly say that there is a lot of joy in the diocese and in the country in general. A lot of gratitude to the Holy Father who was close to us and to the Dicastery for Evangelization which carried forward the whole process. It is good for the diocese of Makeni and the Church of Sierra Leone,” he said.
Italian Bishop Paganelli was appointed the apostolic administrator following the resignation of Bishop George Biguzzi S.X on January 7, 2012.
Bishop-elect Bob John Hassan Koroma was born on November 17, 1971, in Kamabai, in the Northern Province of Sierra Leone. He was ordained a priest for the diocese of Makeni on April 25, 1999.
He holds a licentiate in sacred scripture from the Pontifical Biblical Institute and a doctorate in biblical theology from the Pontifical Urban University of Rome.
He has previously held the following positions; collaborator with Vatican Radio; professor of sacred scripture and dean of studies in St. Paul’s Major Seminary in Freetown (2008-2014); collaborator at St. Catherine of SienaLittle Compton and St. Madeleine in Tiverton, United States of America (2005-2013); parish priest of Immaculate Conception in Magburaka and professor at the diocesan University of Makeni (2015); since 2015, vicar general of the diocese of Makeni and, since 2016, administrator of the Cathedral.
