Bishop Camillo Ballin Passes Away In Rome
Kuwait and Bahrain Catholic community was shocked today morning after receiving news of the death of Bishop Camillo Ballin, Apostolic Vicar of Northern Arabia (Bahrain, Kuwait, Qatar, Saudi Arabia).
Bishop Camillo passed away on Sunday night at his home in Rome. He was much beloved in the Catholic community.
Bishop Ballin, was born to Lucia and Angelo Ballin in Fontaniva, Italy on 24 June, 1944. As a young man, he considered pursuing a doctor’s degree, however, after a neighbor in his village passed away, he realized his greater calling was to be part of the priesthood, and to be near the needy regardless of any circumstances.
He made his first religious profession (Comboni Missionaries of the Heart of Jesus) in 1965 and his perpetual profession in September, 1968 before being ordained Priest of the Comboni Missionaries of the Heart of Jesus on 30 March, 1969 at Castelleto sul Garda, Verona.
Following his ordination, he learned Arabic in Lebanon and Syria and started his priestly apostolate in the Latin parish of St. Joseph, Zamalek, Cairo in 1971. Devotion and dedication to the Church and its activities, as well as 35 years of experience in doing the Church’s work in Egypt, Lebanon and Sudan, saw Monsignor Ballin appointed by His Holiness Pope Benedict XVI as (Fourth) Vicar Apostolic of Kuwait and assigned the Titular See of Arna in July 2005.
Speaking on marking the 50th anniversary of his ordination, Bishop Ballin expressed his gratitude to the Almighty, “It is because of the mercy of God I can celebrate 50 years of service to God. Throughout my life I have tried to follow God, to be a messenger of the love of God, and to oversee the ministry according to his will.
I have dedicated my life to making others happy, and through this journey, I have learned many things, including that there are many different kinds of people; the good, bad and weak. You have to encourage and support them. You have to be the sign of the love of God for all,” said the bishop.
