In the statement published yesterday, the priests of the Prelature of Marajó said that they had had their annual meeting in Belém, “in the fraternal presence of Don José Ionilton Lisboa de Oliveira-SDV, bishop designated for the prelature of Marajó” on November 3 . Likewise, they expressed their solidarity and support for the demonstrations in favor of the permanence of Bishop Azcona.
The priests specified that they sent a letter to the Apostolic Nunciature in Brazil, “together with Bishop José Ionilton, in a spirit of communion”, asking for “clarifications on the decision to remove Bishop José Azcona from the territory of the Marajó prelature.” They also requested “that this decision, for the good of the faithful, be reviewed.”
Bishop José Ionilton was named as the new Bishop of the Prelature of Marajó on November 3. Until then he was Bishop of the Prelature of Itacoatiara (AM). He will assume the pastoral government of the Prelature of Marajó on January 13, 2024.
In 2018 he was elected vice president of the Pastoral Land Commission (CPT) and, in 2021, he assumed the presidency of the CPT on an interim basis. He is currently secretary of REPAM-Brazil. In 2019, he participated in the Amazon Synod at the Vatican.