JOHN PAUL II TO CONFER EPISCOPAL ORDINATION ON NINE PRESBYTERS

VATICAN CITY, DEC 31, 1998 (VIS) - According to a communique made public today by the Office of Liturgical Celebrations of the Supreme Pontiff, on Wednesday, January 6, Solemnity of the Epiphany of the Lord, at 9 a.m. in the Vatican Basilica, John Paul II will confer episcopal ordination on the following nine priests:

1. Msgr. Alessandro D'Errico, of the clergy of the diocese of Aversa, Italy, born November 18, 1950, ordained a priest March 24, 1974, elected titular archbishop of Carini and appointed apostolic nuncio in Pakistan, November 14, 1998.

2. Msgr. Salvatore Pennacchio, of the clergy of the diocese of Aversa, Italy, born September 7, 1952, ordained a priest September 18, 1976, elected titular archbishop of Montemarano and appointed apostolic nuncio in Rwanda, November 28, 1998.

3. Msgr. Alain Lebeaupin, of the clergy of the diocese of Nice, France, born March 2, 1945, ordained a priest June 28, 1975, elected titular archbishop of Vico Equense and appointed apostolic nuncio in Ecuador December 7, 1998.

4. Msgr. Cesare Mazzolari, of the Institute of the Combonian Missionaries of the Heart of Jesus, born February 9, 1937, ordained a priest March 17, 1962, elected bishop of Rumbek (Sudan) November 5, 1998.

5. Msgr. Pierre Tran Dihn Tu, of the clergy of the diocese of Phu Cuong, Vietnam, born March 2, 1937, ordained a priest April 29, 1965, elected bishop of Phu Cuong (Vietnam) December 5, 1998.

6. Msgr. Rafael Cob Garcia, of the clergy of the diocese of Burgos, Spain, born October 23, 1951, ordained a priest October 23, 1976, elected titular bishop of Cerbali and appointed vicar apostolic of Puyo (Ecuador) December 8, 1998.

7. Msgr. Mattew Moolakkattu, of the order of St. Benedict, born February 27, 1953, ordained a priest December 27, 1978, elected titular bishop of Holar and appointed auxiliary to the bishop of Kottayam of the Syro-Malabar (India) November 6, 1998.

8. Msgr. Diarmuid Martin, of the clergy of the diocese of Dublin, Ireland, born April 8, 1945, ordained a priest May 15, 1969, Secretary of the Pontifical Council of Justice and Peace, elected titular bishop of Glenndalocha December 5, 1998.

9. Msgr. Jose Luis Redrado Marchite, O.H., born March 19, 1936, ordained a priest July 11, 1965, Secretary of the Pontifical Council for Pastoral Assistance to Health Care Workers, elected titular bishop of Ofena December 5, 1998.

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