OTHER PONTIFICAL ACTS

VATICAN CITY, MAR 17, 1999 (VIS) - The Holy Father:

- Appointed Bishop Osorio Bebber O.F.M. Cap., prelate of the territorial prelature of Coxim, as bishop of Joacaba (area 10,202, population 256,800, Catholics 220,000, priests 37, religious 88), Brazil. He succeeds Bishop Henrique Muller, O.F.M., whose resignation from the pastoral care of the diocese of Joacaba was accepted by the Holy Father on having reached the age limit.

- Appointed Fr. Luc J. Matthys as bishop of Armidale (area 115,000, population 168,564, Catholics 40,553, priests 34, religious 68), Australia. The bishop-elect was born in Drongen, Belgium, in 1935, was ordained a priest in 1961, and since 1998 has been dean and pastor of Melbourne cathedral.
- Accepted the resignation presented by Bishop Hilarion Capucci B.A., apostolic visitor for Greek-Melkite Catholics in Western Europe, on having reached the age limit.

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