Attentive to listening and committed to accompanying people, especially young people and seminarians. Monsignor Domenico Basile, vicar general of the diocese of Andria and regional assistant of the Apulian Catholic Action, was appointed by Pope Leo new bishop of Molfetta. He succeeds Monsignor Domenico Cornacchia, who leaves due to age limits.
Born on 3 June 1966 in Andria, he studied Philosophy and Theology at the Episcopal Seminary of his diocese and then at the Pontifical Regional Seminary of Puglia Pius XI in Molfetta.
Ordained a priest on 14 September 1991, he graduated in pastoral theology at the Pontifical Lateran University of Rome – he was parish vicar of San Giuseppe Artigiano, in Andria (1991-1993); Educator at the Pontifical Regional Seminary of Puglia Pius XI (1993-2000); director of the diocesan youth ministry service (1996-2000); Parish Priest of the Immaculate Heart of Mary of Andria (2000-2017); Director of the diocesan library and archive (since 2015); Spiritual Father at the Pontifical Regional Seminary of Puglia Pius XI (2017-2021); Director of the Ecclesiastical Cultural Heritage and Religious Buildings Office (since 2019). Since 2021 he has been Vicar General of the Diocese of Andria and since 2024 regional assistant of Catholic Action.
«While I was preparing for the moment of the announcement», he tells us when reached by phone, «I thought a lot about the gift that the Jubilee leaves us: that of hope. I believe there are many men and women today who seek hope and meaning in their lives and therefore I believe that the episcopal ministry and the service of the Church itself are important from this point of view. I also underlined this in the letter I addressed to the diocese.” Letter in which he expresses «the desire to be among you as a traveller, so that the commitment to being “pilgrims of hope” does not fail, together with the men and women of our time who, in various ways, seek the meaning of their daily life and yearn for salvation».
He addressed a thought to Don Tonino Bello «who with the eloquence of prophetic words and gestures spent his life for the Lord, living to the full the desire to be “a Bishop made people”. May his testimony illuminate my ministry among you and the path of our Church!”. And, after greeting his predecessor, Monsignor Cornacchia, he addressed “the lay men and women of our Church”, the deacons and priests, the religious men and women, the civil and military authorities, the entire community of the Regional Seminary, “all of you, dear brothers and sisters of the Church which is in Molfetta, Ruvo, Giovinazzo and Terlizzi”. AND asks «the gift of a prayer that I feel particularly needed in this hour: ask the Lord to bless me, accompanying me with his grace in the episcopal ministry, and entrust me to Mary, Mother of God and disciple ready to pronounce her fiat”.
The national presidency of Catholic Action, expressing joy and gratitude for the appointment, said it was certain that «the experience gained over the years – in service to young people, in training in seminaries, in the leadership of parish communities and in the governance responsibility as Vicar General – will be a precious asset now placed at the service of the diocesan Church entrusted to its pastoral care”. And the regional delegation of Catholic Action, greeting its assistant, assured him: «We will continue to pray for you, dearest Don Mimmo, with all our affection and our ecclesial loyalty, certain that the bond built in joint service to Catholic Action will continue in the indissoluble fraternal reciprocity to generate communion and hope in the journey of the regional and universal Church”.
A prayer that the new bishop of Molfetta willingly welcomes and, indeed, urges. Because, together with joy «if I think about the limits, about my strengths alone, some fears may prevail. But I said my yes by trusting in God. There is more trust and hope that comes from the grace of the Lordto whom I have always relied.”
