✟ Apostolic Vicariate of Northern Arabia
Apostolic Vicars: Bishops accredited to Kuwait
Historical bishops and apostolic vicars who have served Kuwait, from Bishop Ubaldo Stella to Bishop Aldo Berardi, with a separate record for former bishops.
This page preserves the historical succession of the bishops associated with Kuwait. It includes the first vicars apostolic, the period of transition to the Apostolic Vicariate of Northern Arabia, and the current bishop’s predecessors, all in one dedicated historical page.
History in Brief
His Lordship Bishop Camillo Ballin, MCCJ, was the first Apostolic Vicar of Northern Arabia (Bahrain, Kuwait, Qatar and Saudi Arabia). He assumed the title on 31 May 2011, the day the new ecclesiastical territory of the Apostolic Vicariate of Northern Arabia came into existence. Prior to that, he was Apostolic Vicar of Kuwait (2005–2011), overseeing the Apostolic Vicariate of Kuwait.
Former Bishops
H.L. Bishop Ubaldo Teofano Stella, O.C.D. (Deceased)
First Vicar Apostolic of Kuwait (1955–1966)
H.L. Bishop Stella was born on 14 July 1910 in Cassano d’Adda, Italy. He was ordained Priest of the Order of Discalced Carmelites on 28 October 1932 and served as First Vicar Apostolic of Kuwait from 4 June 1955 until 1966.
- 14 Jul 1910—Born, Cassano d’Adda, Italy
- 28 Oct 193222Ordained Priest, Order of Discalced Carmelites
- 29 Jun 195343Appointed Superior of Kuwait
- 4 Jun 195544Appointed Vicar Apostolic of Kuwait
- 4 Jun 195544Appointed Titular Bishop of Antaeopolis
- 3 Oct 195545Ordained Bishop, Titular Bishop of Antaeopolis
- 196655Resigned Vicar Apostolic of Kuwait
- 9 Nov 197868Died, Vicar Apostolic Emeritus of Kuwait
H.L. Bishop Victor San Miguel, O.C.D. (Deceased)
Second Vicar Apostolic of Kuwait (1976–1981)
H.L. Bishop San Miguel was born on 21 April 1904 in Lequeitio, Spain. He was ordained Priest of the Order of Discalced Carmelites on 1 June 1928 and served as Second Vicar Apostolic of Kuwait from 16 July 1976 until 5 November 1981.
- 21 Apr 1904—Born, Lequeitio, Spain
- 1 Jun 192824Ordained Priest, Order of Discalced Carmelites
- 17 Mar 196661Appointed Apostolic Administrator of Kuwait
- 31 May 197672Appointed Vicar Apostolic of Kuwait
- 16 Jul 197672Ordained Bishop, Titular Bishop of Rusubbicari
- 5 Nov 198177Retired, Vicar Apostolic of Kuwait
- 4 Apr 199591Died, Vicar Apostolic Emeritus of Kuwait
H.L. Bishop Francis Micallef, O.C.D. (Deceased)
Third Vicar Apostolic of Kuwait (1982–2005)
H.L. Bishop Francis Micallef was born on 17 December 1928 in Birkirkara, Malta. He was ordained Priest of the Order of Discalced Carmelites on 9 May 1954 and served as Third Vicar Apostolic of Kuwait from 15 January 1982 until 14 July 2005.
H.L. Bishop Camillo Ballin, M.C.C.J. (Deceased)
First Apostolic Vicar of Northern Arabia (2011–2020)
Fourth Apostolic Vicar of Kuwait (2005–2011)
H.L. Bishop Camillo Ballin was born on 24 June 1944 in Fontaniva, Padua, Italy. He was ordained Priest of the Comboni Missionaries of the Heart of Jesus on 30 March 1969 and appointed Fourth Vicar Apostolic of Kuwait on 2 September 2005. On 31 May 2011, he became the first Apostolic Vicar of Northern Arabia.
H.E. Bishop Paul Hinder, O.F.M. Cap. (Retired)
Apostolic Administrator of Northern Arabia (2020–2023)
Bishop Paul Hinder was born in Bussnang TG, Switzerland, on 22 April 1942. He was ordained priest on 4 July 1967, appointed Auxiliary Bishop of Arabia on 20 December 2003, ordained Bishop on 30 January 2004, and later served as Apostolic Administrator of Northern Arabia from 13 May 2020 until 2023.
H.E. Bishop Aldo Berardi, O.SS.T.
Apostolic Vicar of Northern Arabia (Present)
Bishop Aldo was born in Longeville-lès-Metz, France, on 30 September 1963. He made his perpetual profession in Rome on 17 December 1990, was ordained priest in Ars-sur-Moselle on 20 July 1991, appointed Apostolic Vicar of Northern Arabia on 28 January 2023, and consecrated Bishop on 18 March 2023 at Our Lady of Arabia Cathedral, Awali, Bahrain.