Didier Rocca appointed rector of Notre-Dame de la Garde

Father Didier Rocca has been appointed as the new rector of the Notre-Dame de la Garde basilica in Marseille, succeeding Father Olivier Spinosa after a nine-year tenure. The appointment was decided by Cardinal Jean-Marc Aveline.

Before entering the priesthood approximately seven years ago, Didier Rocca had a career as a mathematics teacher in various Marseille schools. He has also been heavily involved in the Œuvre de la Jeunesse Jean-Joseph Allemand, a Catholic institution dedicated to youth education. Most recently, he served as the priest of Notre-Dame-de-la-Major and Les Accoules.

Father Spinosa will transition to a new role as a trainer at the Saint-Luc seminary in Aix-en-Provence, while continuing to serve as an auxiliary priest in the Marseille diocese. The basilica remains a major religious and heritage site, attracting approximately 2 million visitors annually.