Christian Carlassare

Christian Carlassare, MCCJ (born 1 October 1977) is an Italian prelate of the Catholic Church who became bishop of the Diocese of Rumbek in South Sudan in March 2021. His episcopal consecration and installation were delayed for a year after he was injured in an assault. He is a member of the Comboni Missionaries and has worked in South Sudan since 2005.

His Excellency

Christian Carlassare M.C.C.I.
Bishop of Malakal
ChurchRoman Catholic Church
DioceseRoman Catholic Diocese of Rumbek
In office8 March 2021
PredecessorCesare Mazzolari
Orders
Ordination4 September 2004
by Flavio Roberto Carraro
Consecration25 March 2022
by Gabriel Zubeir Wako
Personal details
Born (1977-10-01) 1 October 1977
Schio, Province of Vicenza, Italy
NationalityItalian
Previous post(s)Vicar general of Malakal
Alma materPontifical Gregorian University
Pontifical Urban University
MottoOmnes unum in Christo
Coat of arms
Styles of
Christian Carlassare
Reference styleThe Most Reverend
Spoken styleYour Excellency
Religious styleMonsignor
Posthumous stylenone

When he became a bishop in 2022 at the age of 44, he was the youngest Italian bishop.[1]

Early life

Christian Carlassare was born on 1 October 1977 in Schio, Vicenza, Italy. After primary and secondary school, he attended an orientation course at the Comboni Missionary Seminary in Thiene. He carried out his postulancy and philosophical studies at the Theological Faculty of Central Italy in Florence and his novitiate in Venegono Superiore, Varese. He earned a bachelor's degree in theology at the Pontifical Gregorian University (2000-2003) and a bachelor's degree in missiology from the Pontifical Urban University (2003-2004). He made his solemn vows as a member of the Comboni Missionaries in Rome in 2003 and was ordained a priest on 4 September 2004.[2]

Missionary

After ordination, he attended an English language course during the academic year 2004/2005 and the next year studied the Nuer language in South Sudan at the Holy Trinity Parish, Old Fangak County. He held the following positions: vicar (2006-2007) and parish priest of the same parish in Jonglei State (2007-2016); member of the Secretariat of Animation of Vocations and Basic Formation (2011-2019); provincial councillor of the Comboni Missionaries, South Sudan (2012-2019); secretary of the Provincial Council of the Comboni Missionaries (2014-2016); vice provincial in South Sudan (2017-2019); and promoter of vocations and director of the orientation course (pre-Postulancy) for the Comboni Missionaries in Moroyok (Juba) (2017-2020).[2] He was vicar general of the Diocese of Malakal from 2020 to 2021.[3]

Bishop

On 8 March 2021, Pope Francis named him bishop of Rumbek.[2] At he time of his appointment, he was the youngest Italian Catholic bishop.[4] He arrived in Rumbek on 16 April with his episcopal consecration scheduled for 23 May.[5]

Carlassare was shot at by unknown assailants on 26 April 2021. In the night individuals knocked on Carlassare's door, and when he answered they beat him and shot him four times in the legs. He was taken to the hospital in Juba. He was airlifted to Nairobi the next day and returned to Italy when released from Nairobi Hospital.[5][6][7][lower-alpha 1]

On 14 March 2022, he met privately with Pope Francis.[9][10] He received his episcopal consecration from Cardinal Gabriel Zubeir Wako, Archbishop emeritus of Khartoum, on 25 March 2022 in Holy Family Cathedral in Rumbek.[1][11][12]

Notes
  1. Authorities believe the attack was an attempt to intimidate Carlassare on the part of members of the local Dinka people who support the appointment of another Comboni Missionary who has led the diocese as coordinator since December 2013. For the last decade Carlassare has worked with the rival Nuer people.[8]

References
  1. "A new beginning for the Catholic Church: Father Christian Carlassare is ordained bishop in Rumbek". Agenzia Fides. 25 March 2022. Retrieved 27 March 2022.
  2. "Resignations and Appointments, 08.03.2021" (Press release). Holy See Press Office. 8 March 2021. Retrieved 15 March 2022.
  3. "Padre Christian Carlassare ha ricevuto la nomina a vicario generale della diocesi di Malakal, in Sud Sudan" (in Italian). comboni.org. Retrieved 9 March 2021.
  4. Laggia, Alberto (9 March 2021). "Il comboniano vicentino Christian Carlassare diventa il più giovane vescovo italiano" (in Italian). Famiglia Christiania. Retrieved 10 March 2021.
  5. "Fr. Carlassare, new bishop of the diocese of Rumbek wounded by gunshots". Agenzia Fides. 26 April 2021. Retrieved 31 May 2021.
  6. Samasumo, Paul (28 April 2021). "Pope praying for Bishop-elect of South Sudan after shooting attack". Vatican News. Retrieved 30 April 2021.
  7. "Fr. Christian Carlassare will be ordained bishop on March 25 in Rumbek". Comboni Missionaries. 9 March 2022. Retrieved 15 March 2022.
  8. Allen, Elise Ann (29 April 2021). "Bishop-elect shot in South Sudan says he is not intimidated". Crux. Retrieved 30 April 2021.
  9. Glatz, Carol (17 March 2022). "Pope blesses, encourages new bishop-designate for South Sudan". Crux. Catholic News Service. Retrieved 17 March 2022.
  10. "Audiences, 14.03.2022" (Press release). Holy See Press Office. 14 March 2023. Retrieved 15 March 2022.
  11. "Il vicentino padre Carlassare, guarito dall'attentato, diventa vescovo di Rumbek nel Sud Sudan" (in Italian). La Piazza Web. Retrieved 27 March 2022.
  12. Samasumo, Paul (25 March 2022). "South Sudan: Look beyond the status associated with the office of Bishop". Vatican News. Retrieved 27 March 2022.
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