Brazilian priest becomes first Latin bishop in Cyprus in 340 years

SÃO PAULO, Brazil – After 340 years, Cyprus has once again a Latin bishop.

On March 16, Brazilian-born Franciscan priest Bruno Varriano received in Nicosia his episcopal ordination from Cardinal Pierluigi Pizzaballa, the Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem, and officially became the Patriarchal vicar of Cyprus.

Varriano, who also holds Italian citizenship, will lead a group of 16 priests and will keep accompanying a number of Latin Catholic communities, something that he has...