As of today, the Latin Catholic Church of Cyprus officially has its own Auxiliary Bishop.
This marks a significant development, as historically the Cypriot Catholic Church has been led by a Patriarchal Vicar formally under the jurisdiction of the Latin Patriarchate of Jerusalem.
The announcement was made at the headquarters of the Latin Patriarchal Vicariate in Nicosia, in the presence of Monsignor Mauro Lalli and the Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem Cardinal Pierbattista Pizzaballa. The Cypriot Orthodox Church was represented at the event by the Bishop of Neapolis, Porphyrios.
The newly appointed Auxiliary Bishop of the Latin Patriarchate of Jerusalem in Cyprus is Bruno Varriano.
Born in São Paulo, Brazil, Auxiliary Bishop Bruno Varriano earned his Bachelor’s in Theology from the Lateran University, and was ordained as a priest on August 30, 1997.
His journey of academic pursuits continued with a diploma in Biblical Formation from the Studium Biblicum Franciscanum in Jerusalem in 2002. Subsequently, in 2004, he obtained a Licentiate in Spiritual Theology from the Pontifical Antonianum University.
In 2011, Auxiliary Bishop Varriano reached completed his doctoral studies in Clinical Psychology at the Pontifical Salesian University.
During the same period, he engaged in specialised studies in Psychotraumatology at the LUMSA of Rome and the Policlinico Gemelli in Rome, culminating in a state examination at the University La Sapienza – Roma.
From 2013 to 2022, Auxiliary Bishop Varriano assumed the role of Guardian of the Convent of Nazareth and Rector of the Shrine of the Annunciation and that of St. Joseph. Additionally, from 2016 to 2022, he served as a member of the discretorio of the Holy Land.
The appointment of Father Bruno Varriano as the Patriarchal Vicar for Cyprus on August 11, 2022, underscores his dedication and contribution to the spiritual community. His diverse background in theology, psychology, and education positions him well for this significant role in the ecclesiastical landscape of Cyprus.
On August 11, 2022, he was appointed Patriarchal Vicar for the island of Cyprus.
