Pope Francis has accepted the resignation of Bishop Paul Hinder and has appointed Bishop Paulo Martinelli OFM Cap., presently Auxiliary Bishop in Milan, as the new Apostolic Vicar of Southern Arabia. 

Following is the text of the official communique released by Msgr. Kryspin Dubiel, the Charge D’Affaires of the Apostolic Nunciature in the United Arab Emirates: 

It is my honoured duty to inform that His Holiness Pope Francis, in view of the pastoral care of the Catholic faithful residing in the United Arab Emirates, has taken the following decisions.

His Holiness Pope Francis has accepted the resignation presented by His Excellency Msgr. Paul Hinder, the present Apostolic Vicar of the Apostolic Vicariate of Southern Arabia from the pastoral governance, upon reaching his retirement age.

His Holiness Pope Francis has appointed His Excellency Msgr. Paolo MARTINELLI, currently Auxiliary Bishop of Milan, as successor to His Excellency Msgr. Paul Hinder as the Apostolic Vicar of Southern Arabia. Until the canonical installation of H E Msgr. Paolo MARTINELLI as the Apostolic Vicar of Southern Arabia, Pope Francis has appointed H E Msgr. Paul Hinder as the Apostolic Administrator of the Apostolic Vicariate of Southern Arabia.

Msgr. Dr Kryspin Dubiel 

Charge d’ Affaires of Apostolic Nunciature