OTHER PONTIFICAL ACTS

VATICAN CITY, MAR 3, 1999 (VIS) - The Holy Father:

- Erected the diocese of Caraguatatuba (area 2,121, population 210,000, Catholics 175,000, priests 14, religious 45),Brazil, with territory taken from the diocese of Santos, making it suffragan to the Metropolitan Church of Sao Paulo. He appointed Fr. Fernando Mason O.F.M.Conv., as first bishop of Caraguatatuba. The bishop-elect was born in Loreggia, Italy, in 1945, was ordained a priest in 1971, and since 1997 has been coordinator of the provincial commission for formation.

- Appointed Fr. Adriano Ciocca Vasino as bishop of Floresta (area 18,210, population 238,955, Catholics 228,000, priests 14, religious 21 ), Brazil. The bishop-elect was born in Borgosesia, Italy, in 1949, was ordained a priest in 1974, and since 1998 has been coordinator of pastoral ministry in the diocese of Floresta.

- Appointed Archbishop Pier Luigi Celata, apostolic nuncio in Turkey and Turkmenistan, as apostolic nuncio in Belgium and Luxembourg.

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