Pope Francis has appointed Ángel Francisco Caraballo Fermín as the new bishop of the Diocese of Cabimas, Venezuela. A native of the town of Puerto Ordaz (1965), he had been auxiliary bishop of Maracaibo since 2012.

He assures that this appointment, for which he is sample very grateful to God and the Blessed Virgin Mary, "implies a great responsibility" since as successor of the apostles he will have to "lead, accompany and animate the People of God".

Monsignor Caraballo recalls that in spite of the current status that Venezuela is experiencing, the Church continues with its pastoral work, working in the midst of so much adversity and attacks: "In my episcopal ministry I have tried to second the desire that the Pope expressed to the newly appointed bishops and that he later collected in the Apostolic Exhortation The Joy of the Gospel: 'The bishop will sometimes be in front (of the flock) to show the way and guard the hope of the people, at other times he will simply be in the midst of everyone, with his simple and merciful closeness; and at times he will have to walk behind the people to help those who are lagging behind'.

He arrived in Spain in 1988 after studying Philosophy at seminar in Barquisimeto. At the University of Navarra he studied high school program in Theology and during his time as a seminarian he was formed in the Bidasoa International Ecclesiastical high school , of which he says he keeps in his heart "beautiful and unforgettable moments, such as the gatherings", especially the one he lived with Blessed Alvaro del Portillo, "who exhorted us to love the Church and to feel with the Church".

He also recalls the congress that was held on the occasion of the Synod on the Life and Ministry of Priests: "It helped me to understand that for there to be true renewal in the Church, holy priests are needed".

When he finished his programs of study, in 1991, he returned to Venezuela. There he was ordained a priest in December of the same year. After his first years of ministry, he moved to Rome, to the Pontifical University of the Holy Cross, to study the licentiate degree in Canon Law, which he successfully completed in 1998. A year later he obtained the diploma of specialization in Canon Law and Family at the same center.

He has been pastor and professor at seminar Mayor de Ciudad Guayana. Later he was chancellor of the Curia and vicar general of the diocese. He is also currently president of the Episcopal Commission for the Bible and catechesis in the Venezuelan Episcopal lecture .