Martín Lasarte Topolansky

Martín Lasarte Topolanski S.D.B. (also Martín Lasarte Topolansky) born 12 October 1962, is a Uruguayan Catholic prelate who works as the bishop of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Lwena in Angola, since 1 July 2023. Before that, from 17 August 1991 until he was appointed bishop, he was a priest of the Catholic religious Order of the Salesians of Saint John Bosco. He was appointed bishop by Pope Francis. He was consecrated bishop and installed at Luena, Angola on 3 September 2023.

Background and education He was born on 25 October 1962, in Montevideo, Uruguay. He became a member of the Salesians of Saint John Bosco religious order while in seminary in that city on 1 February 1981. He made his first religious vows on 31 January 1982, and perpetual vows on 31 January 1986. He successfully undertook advanced religious studies in sacred scripture at the Pontifical Biblical Institute in Rome, Italy from 1991 until 1995.

Priesthood He was ordained a Salesian Priest on 17 August 1991, in Montevideo, Uruguay, South America. He had relocated to Angola as a missionary, in 1990. He had spent the time from 1985 to 1986 as a member of the Talleres Don Bosco religious community in the Uruguayan capital. He served as a priest until 1 July 2023. He was consecrated bishop and installed at Luena, Angola, on 3 September 2023 by José Manuel Imbamba, Archbishop of Saurimo assisted by Estanislau Marques Chindekasse, Bishop of Dundo and Gaston Kashala Ruwezi, Bishop of Sakania-Kipushi in neighboring Democratic Republic of the Congo. As of 2025, he is the local ordinary of the diocese of Lwena, in Angola.