Katholisch-Apostolische Kirche Europa

Gioacchino (Gino) Collica – Archbishop and Catholicos

Ecclesial profile

Gioacchino (Gino) Collica is Archbishop and Catholicos of the Catholic Apostolic Church Europe. He exercises his episcopal ministry within this independent Christian Church and does not claim to be an archbishop of the Roman Catholic Church.

The Catholic Apostolic Church Europe is an autonomous episcopal prelature with its own ecclesial leadership, liturgy, and canon law. Its seat in Germany is located in Duisburg.

Priestly ordination and episcopal consecration

On 12 April 2015, Gioacchino Collica received priestly ordination from Bishop Gianni di Marco in Sant’Benedetto/Alba Adriatica, Italy.

On 17 October 2015, he received episcopal consecration in the private Chapel of St Michael in Duisburg. Bishops Gianni di Marco, Michael Schatta, and Pius H. Tonndorf took part in the consecration.

On 20 January 2020, in Yaoundé, Cameroon, he received a consecration sub condicione from Bishop Serge Donatien Abeng Mbarga. The line of succession presented by the Church is traced through this episcopal line to Dom Carlos Duarte Costa, founder of the Igreja Católica Apostólica Brasileira (ICAB).

Apostolic succession and ecclesial tradition

The Catholic Apostolic Church Europe presents Archbishop Gioacchino Collica’s apostolic succession in the line connected with the ICAB and Dom Carlos Duarte Costa, formerly Roman Catholic Bishop of Botucatu in Brazil.

The Church understands this succession as part of its apostolic identity. The Roman Catholic Church, however, does not recognize the Catholic Apostolic Church Europe as part of its ecclesial communion. These two assessments must therefore be clearly distinguished.

The WCCAC and the journey toward the Syriac-Antiochene tradition

On 1 February 2019, Gioacchino Collica entered the Worldwide Communion of Catholic Apostolic Churches (WCCAC), a communion of independent Catholic Churches in the ICAB line of succession. From 2019 to 2020 he served as Chancellor of the WCCAC.

Subsequently, his ecclesial journey became increasingly oriented toward the Syriac-Antiochene tradition. The spirituality, liturgy, and tradition of the Church of Antioch have assumed an important role in his ministry and in the life of the Catholic Apostolic Church Europe.

Catholicos of the Catholic Apostolic Church Europe

On 7 February 2025, the Synod of Bishops of the Catholic Apostolic Church Europe met in Lima, Peru.

According to the official minutes published by the Church, the Synod unanimously appointed Archbishop Gioacchino (Gino) Collica Catholicos of the Catholic Apostolic Church Europe for life. The minutes record no abstentions and no votes against.

His ministry today

Gioacchino Collica understands episcopal ministry above all as a responsibility before God and a service to people.

At the center of his ministry he places Jesus Christ and the Gospel. According to this pastoral vision, the Church must not be exhausted by titles, offices, or structures, but must be present wherever people need consolation, hope, guidance, and concrete help.

His pastoral mission includes in particular proclaiming the Gospel, accompanying people in faith, serving the poor and needy, promoting unity among Christians, and building bridges between different ecclesial traditions and cultures.

A particular spiritual closeness to the Syriac-Antiochene tradition accompanies this journey, together with openness to fraternal dialogue with other Christian Churches.

Judicial proceedings and clarification concerning the ecclesiastical title

In connection with publications concerning Gioacchino Collica, proceedings took place before the Regional Court Aachen and subsequently before the Higher Regional Court Cologne.

The state courts were not called upon to decide theological questions, the validity of apostolic succession, or canonical recognition by the Roman Catholic Church. The subject of the proceedings was certain statements and publications.

In the decision of the Higher Regional Court Cologne dated 17 June 2025 (case no. 15 U 21/25), Gioacchino Collica is designated in the caption as “Herr Erzbischof Gioacchino Collica.”

The Catholic Apostolic Church Europe clarifies that Gioacchino Collica does not claim to be an archbishop of the Roman Catholic Church. The title of Archbishop is exercised within his own Church. At the same time, the use of the designation in a judicial decision must not be interpreted as a state ruling on the theological or canonical validity of the episcopal consecration.

To serve, unite, and bear witness

The ministry of Archbishop Gioacchino Collica seeks to be a service to people and to the Church. His pastoral vision is directed toward the proclamation of Christ, mercy, the dignity of every person, closeness to those who suffer, and the search for unity among Christians.

His commitment can be summarized in the desire to serve, unite, and bear witness to the Gospel, building bridges between East and West and among people from different cultures and traditions.

Gioacchino (Gino) Collica