Pope Francis appoints new Archbishop of Nagasaki

By Vatican News staff reporter

The Holy See Press Office announced Tuesday that the Pope has accepted the resignation of Archbishop Joseph Mitsuaki Takami, P.S.S., the Metropolitan of Nagasaki.

At the same time, Pope Francis also appointed Peter Michiaki Nakamura to take over the pastoral care of the Japanese Archdiocese.

Bishop Nakamura has previously served as the Auxiliary Bishop of Nagasaki, and was the titular bishop of Fessei. Pope Francis appointed the Nagasaki-native to that role in May 2019.

Brief biography

Born on 21 March 1962 in Saikai-city, Nagasaki prefecture, Archbishop Michiaki attended Nagasaki Minor Seminary before studying philosophy and theology at San Sulpizio Major Seminary in Fukuoka.

He then studied at the Alfonsiana Academy in Rome, obtaining a licentiate in moral theology in 1994.

He was ordained a priest on 19 March 1988 for the Archdiocese of Nagasaki.

After ordination, he served in the following roles: Formator in the Minor Seminary of the Archdiocese of Nagasaki (1988-1989); Vicar in the parish of Nakamachi (1989-1991); formator in the Minor Seminary (1994-1999); Vicar in the Cathedral of Urakami (1999-2002); Parish priest of Togitsu (2002-2005); formator in the Major Seminary in Fukuoka (2005-2007); Parish priest of Uematsu (2007-2014); professor of moral theology at the Major Seminaries of Fukuoka and Tokyo. (Source for roles: UCA News)