Pope Francis appointed Fr. Riccardo Lamba, a Venezuelan priest and parish priest of San Ponziano in the Eternal City, of which the Holy Father is the bishop, as the new Auxiliary Bishop of Rome.
“For me, it was a great surprise when they communicated this news to me. I take it as an important call to friendship with the Lord, in the service that he has asked of me for years and that I always do with great joy,” said the auxiliary bishop-elect in a greeting published by the Diocese of Rome.
“I have managed to have beautiful friendships with many people to serve the Lord, this is the substance. We hope to continue like this with joy, ”he assured.
Riccardo Lamba was born in Caracas (Venezuela) on November 30, 1956. He is 65 years old. Later he moved to Italy with his family.
He graduated in medicine and obtained a degree in psychology from the Pontifical Gregorian University. In 1984 he entered the seminary.
He was ordained a priest for the Diocese of Rome on May 6, 1986.
Between 1989 and 1991 he was an assistant at the Pontifical Major Roman Seminary. From 1991 to 2000 he was an assistant at the Faculty of Medicine and Surgery of the Universidad Católica del Sacro Cuore.
From 2000 to 2002 he was parish priest of San Anselmo alla Cecchignola. From 2002 to 2018 he served as Gesù Divino Lavoratore and since 2018 he is parish priest of San Ponziano in Rome.
On Friday, May 27, the Vatican reported that Pope Francis also appointed as auxiliary bishops of Rome Msgr. Daniele Salera, from the clergy of the Eternal City; and Mons. Baldassarre Reina, of the clergy of the Archdiocese of Agrigento.