Cardinal Bo replaces Cardinal Gracias as FABC president

He will take charge from January 2019.

Photo credit: cbcpnews.com

New Delhi:  Cardinal Charles Maung Bo of Yangon archdiocese has been elected president of Federation of Asian Bishops’ Conferences (FABC), said a message from the federation.

Cardinal Bo was elected at the FABC’s Central Committee meeting held Nov. 16 in Bangkok, the message said. He will take charge from January 2019.

Cardinal Bo succeeds Cardinal Oswald Gracias of Bombay who completes his two terms as FABC president Dec. 31, 2018.

Cardinal Gracias also was FABC Secretary General from January to December 2012.

Cardinal Bo was born in 1948 in Sagaing Region of Myanmar to peasant parents.

He sent to a Salesian-run boarding school in Mandalay and later joined a Salesian seminary in Anisakan village.

Bo was ordained a Salesian priest in 1976 and appointed as prefect of the the Diocese of Lashio in 1986. Four years later, he was consecrated Bishop of Lashio. In 1996, he was transferred to the Diocese of Pathein.

In 2015, Pope Francis named him cardinal. In April 2015 he was appointed a member of the Congregation for Institutes of Consecrated Life and Societies of Apostolic Life, Pontifical Council for Culture, and Secretariat of Communication.