Virginio Domingo Bressanelli, former Bishop of Neuquén, dies

Monseñor Virginio Domingo Bressanelli, the Bishop Emeritus of Neuquén, passed away on Friday morning at approximately 10:00 AM. He had been hospitalized in Resistencia following a stroke, where his condition was reported as serious.

Born in Beravebú, Santa Fe, in 1942, Bressanelli was a member of the Priests of the Sacred Heart of Jesus (Dehonians). After studying in Italy and graduating from the Pontifical Gregorian University in Rome, he was ordained a priest in 1966. His ecclesiastical career included serving as the Provincial President of his order and holding international leadership roles within the congregation.

In 2005, Pope John Paul II appointed him Bishop of Comodoro Rivadavia. He later served as Coadjutor Bishop of Neuquén under Pope Benedict XVI in 2010 and formally assumed the role of the fourth titular Bishop of the Neuquén diocese in November 2011. He led the diocese for nearly six years until Pope Francis accepted his resignation due to age limits in 2017. Following his retirement, he continued his pastoral work as Bishop Emeritus. The Diocese of Neuquén is expected to announce details regarding his wake and funeral services in the coming hours.