Paolo Bizzeti: born in 1947 in Florence. He joined the Society of Jesus, and after his traditional, philosophical and theological studies and priestly ordination (1975), he graduated from Bologna with a degree in Philosophy and Letters and a thesis based on the book of Wisdom (Wisdom. Structure and literary genres. Paideia, Brescia, 1984). For many years he was engaged in biblical evangelism and youth ministry in Bologna, after which he became the Superior to the Father Jesuits in Florence.
Subsequently he became the Director for the Center of Spirituality in Villa San Giuseppe, Bologna for 12 years. For 20 years he also coordinated the pastoral work for vocations for the Jesuits in Italy. From 2007-2013 he was the Rector for the International Scholastic Philosophy for The Company of Jesus in Padova, and Director for the Antonianum Center in Padova for laity formation. He held courses at the Theological Faculty of Triveneto and at the ISSR. He also supports family communities (www.maranatha.com; www.mulinocasole.it; www.tendadiabraham.it; www.comunitabethesda.it).
He founded the non-profit organization “Friends of the Middle East”, a group that is interested in the religious problems in the Middle East and promotes formative itineraries in the Biblical lands. (www.amo-fme.org). Amongst the latest publications: Up to the Extreme Limits. Meditations on the Acts of the Apostles, EDB Bologna, 2008. A biblical, patristical, archeological and touristic guide to Turkey. EDB Bologna, 2014.
On August 14, 2015 he was appointed Bishop to Tabe and Apostolic Vicar to Anatolia. Consecrated on November 1, 2015, he was installed in the Vicariate on November 29, 2015. He lives in Iskenderun.