Pope Francis has appointed Bishop Anton Bal as the new Archbishop of Madang.
The announcement was made by the Apostolic Nunciature (Vatican Embassy) in Port Moresby on 26th July, 2019, at 8pm.
Bishop Bal is presently the Bishop of Kundiawa. He will replace Archbishop Stephen Reichert, O.F.M. Cap., Archbishop of Madang, who has reached the age limit.
Bishop Bal was born in Yuri (Diocese of Kundiawa) on 29th November, 1963. After his elementary studies at Dirima Primary School and Kundiu High School, he entered St Fidelis minor seminary at Madang. He studied Philosophy and Theology at the Holy Spirit Seminary, Bomana, Port Moresby, and was ordained priest for the Diocese of Kundiawa in 1991.
From 2004 to 2007, he was Vicar General of the Diocese of Kundiawa and Administrator of the Cathedral of Kundiawa.
He was elected Auxiliary Bishop of Kundiawa on 5th June, 2007, and received the Episcopal Consecrations on 10th September. He was appointed as the Ordinary Bishop of Kundiawa on 12th January 2009.
Currently Bishop Anton Bal is Vice President of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of Papua New Guinea and Solomon Islands, Chairman of the Committee for Integral Human Development and Bishop Deputy of the National Family Life Commission.