Dom Antônio Fontinele é nomeado bispo de Rio Branco

Pope Leo XIV appointed Antônio Fontinele de Melo as the new bishop of Rio Branco on September 18, 2026.

Fontinele de Melo currently serves as the bishop of Humaitá. He has been acting as the apostolic administrator for the Rio Branco diocese since July 12, following the vacancy of the see.

The diocese became vacant on July 1 when the pope accepted the resignation of the previous bishop, Joaquín Pertíñez Fernández.