Pope Leo XIV appoints Antônio Fontinele bishop of Diocese of Rio Branco

Pope Leo XIV has appointed Antônio Fontinele de Melo as the bishop of the Diocese of Rio Branco in Brazil. Fontinele moves to the new role from the Diocese of Humaitá, where he has served as bishop since October 2020.

Fontinele has been governing the Rio Branco diocese provisionally as apostolic administrator since July, following the acceptance of the resignation of Joaquín Pertíñez Fernández. This appointment makes his leadership of the diocese permanent.

Born in Camocim, Ceará, in 1968, Fontinele was ordained a priest for the Archdiocese of Porto Velho on September 18, 1999. He studied philosophy and theology at the São João XXIII Seminary in Porto Velho and holds specializations in Metodologia Educacional and Sagrada Escritura. His previous roles include serving as rector of the Seminário Menor Dom Helder Câmara, parish priest of the Catedral do Sagrado Coração de Jesus, and treasurer for the Archdiocese of Porto Velho.