Camillo Ballin
Camillo Ballin (June 24, 1944 – April 12, 2020) was an Italian-Bahraini Catholic bishop, writer, missionary, and educator who was the Vicar Apostolic of the Apostolic Vicariate of Northern Arabia.
Camillo Ballin | |
|---|---|
| Emeritus Apostolic Vicar of Northern Arabia | |
 | |
| Church | Catholic Church |
| Diocese | Apostolic Vicariate of Northern Arabia |
| In office | 2005 to 2020 |
| Predecessor | Francis George Adeodatus Micallef, O.C.D. |
| Successor | Paul Hinder (as Apostolic Administrator) |
| Orders | |
| Ordination | 30 March 1969 |
| Consecration | 2 October 2005 by Crescenzio Cardinal Sepe |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 24 June 1944 Padua, Italy |
| Died | 12 April 2020 (aged 75) Rome, Italy |
| Nationality | Italian & Bahraini |
| Denomination | Catholic |
| Residence | Bishop's House, Awali Bahrain |
| Previous post(s) | Apostolic Vicar of Kuwait |
| Motto | IN VERBO TUO |
| Coat of arms |  |
Family and early life
Camillo Ballin, son of Lucia and Angelo Ballin, was born in Fontaniva, Italy on June 24, 1944. He died on 12 April 2020. [1]
Career
Ballin was ordained Priest of the Comboni Missionaries of the Heart of Jesus on March 30, 1969.[1]
Ballin began his priestly apostle in St. Joseph parish in Cairo in 1971, and then he served as Parish Priest from 1972 to 1977. From 1977 to 1980, Ballin was located first in Kaslik, in Lebanon, and then Pontificio Instituto Orientale, in Rome, for his Licentiate in Oriental liturgy. He was a professor at the Institute of Theology in Cairo from 1981 to 1990.
In 1990, Ballin moved to Sudan and founded a training institute for religion teachers. From 1997 to 2000, Ballin returned to Rome for his doctorate on the Church history. In 2000, he was appointed Director of the Dar Comboni Center of Arab and Islamic Studies in Cairo, Egypt.
On July 14, 2005, Pope Benedict XVI appointed Ballin as the Vicar Apostolic of Kuwait.[1]
Publications
In 2004, Ballin published "The Ways of the Spirit" and "History of the Church" in Arabic.[1]
Catholic Unity Congress
The Catholic Unity Congress was established in 2008 by the Pastoral Council at the Holy Family Cathedral in Kuwait City and led by Ballin as the head of the Catholic Church in Kuwait. The mission of the conference is to increase awareness that all Catholic groups "are one and united with the Lord."[2]
Later life
Ballin resided in Awali in the Kingdom of Bahrain at the Persian Gulf.
Death
Ballin died in Rome in the evening of Easter Sunday (12 April 2020). He was undergoing treatment in Rome at the Gemelli Polyclinic since the last two months following diagnosis with lung cancer.
During this period, the bishops of the Latin Conference of the Arab Regions (CELRA) were able to visit him and spend a few moments with him as they convened in Rome from 17–20 February 2020 for their 70th Plenary assembly.[3]
References
- "Biography: HIS LORDSHIP BISHOP CAMILLO BALLIN, MCCI". The Vicariate Apostolic of Kuwait website. The Vicariate Apostolic of Kuwait. 1999–2010. Archived from the original on 4 May 2010. Retrieved 22 April 2010.
- Garcia, Ben (13 November 2009). "Kuwait: Cathedral Concludes 'Catholic Unity Congress'". Friday Times. Shuwaikh, Kuwait: Kuwait Times. Archived from the original on 2010-06-12. Retrieved 22 April 2010.
- "Bishop Camillo Ballin MCCJ (24.06.1944 - 12.04.2020) passes away". Apostolic Vicariate of Southern Arabia. Retrieved 2020-04-19.
Further reading
- EWTN Interview with Bishop Camillo Ballin -- Apostolic Vicar of Northern Arabia March 5, 2014
- Interview with H.E. Mgr Camillo Ballin. May 2009. Oasis. Accessed on 22 April 2010.
- Vicariate Apostolic of Northern Arabia