Le prime parole di Michele Morandi, nuovo vescovo di Faenza-Modigliana: "È stato un bel colpo"

An emotional Don Michele Morandi attended the announcement in Faenza Cathedral of his selection as the new bishop of the Diocese of Faenza-Modigliana. This was a very rare event. For many reasons, it is common for the decision to be made regarding the new leadership of a diocese to fall to someone external to the local area. There are few cases in which the new bishop is chosen from among those already present within the diocese, and even fewer cases in which the selection includes the position of vicar. Recently turned 50, a priest since 2003, Michele Morandi had been vicar general since 2016. It was outgoing Bishop Mario Toso who suggested his appointment as his successor, to provide a sign of continuity during a difficult period for the area, amid floods and earthquakes. The installation ceremony will take place on May 12th at 5:00 PM in the Cathedral. Michele Morandi was born in Alfonsine on March 30, 1976, in the parish of the Sacred Heart of Jesus. At 16, after attending Agesci, he entered the seminary in Bologna, where he completed classical studies at the archiepiscopal seminary and theological studies at the Benedict XV Pontifical Regional Seminary. He was ordained a priest on October 18, 2003, by Bishop Italo Castellani. He served as assistant pastor of SS. Agostino e Margherita in Città in Faenza until 2013. Since October 18, 2004, he has been a member of the presbyteral council, of which he is currently moderator. In 2005, he became director of the diocesan office for vocations and of the school ministry. Deputy director of the Padre Daniele Home in 2004 and then director of the same Home in 2006. From 2005 to 2010, he was a religion teacher and vice principal at the Marri-Santa Umiltà Foundation middle schools. In 2008, he earned a licentiate in sacred theology from the Theological Faculty of Emilia Romagna. In 2010, he served as episcopal master of ceremonies and in 2014, as canon of the cathedral. In 2010, the Bishop of Faenza, Monsignor Claudio Stagni, entrusted him with the foundation of the diocesan preparatory community for young men oriented towards the priesthood, which became interdiocesan in 2015. In the same year, Bishop Monsignor Mario Toso appointed him rector of the diocesan seminary and consultor, followed by his appointment as vicar general in 2016. In 2017 he took on the role of parish administrator of Santa Maria del Rosario in Errano, Sant’Apollinare in Castel Raniero and San Giovanni Battista Decollato in Celle.