OTHER PONTIFICAL ACTS

VATICAN CITY, 26 JUL, 1999 (VIS) - The Holy Father:

- Accepted the resignation from the pastoral care of the archdiocese of Hobart, Australia, presented by Archbishop Joseph Eric D'Arcy, upon having reached the age limit. He is succeeded by Coadjutor Archbishop Adrian Leo Doyle.

- Accepted the resignation from the pastoral care of the diocese of Ilagan, Philippines, presented by Archbishop Miguel G. Purugganan, in accordance with canon 401, para. 2 of the Code of Canon Law. He is succeeded by Coadjutor Bishop Sergio Utleg.

- Appointed Fr. Miguel La Fay Barbi O. Carm, responsible for the formation of candidates to the Carmelite order in Lima, Peru, as bishop-prelate of Sicuani (area 15,440, population 353,000, Catholics 334,000, priests 20, religious 39), Peru. The bishop-elect was born in Chelsea, U.S.A. in 1934 and ordained a priest in 1960.

On Saturday, July 24, it was made public that the Holy Father:

- Erected the diocese of Ambositra (area 15,000, population 540,000, Catholics 262,233, priests 75, religious 147), Madagascar, with territory taken from the archdiocese of Fianarantsoa, Madagascar, making it a suffragan of the Metropolitan church of Fianarantsoa. He appointed Fr. Fulgence Rabemahafaly, former rector of the major seminary of Vohitsoa, Madagascar, as bishop of the new diocese. The bishop-elect was born at Miarinavaratra, Madagascar, in 1951 and ordained a priest in 1980.

- Appointed Archbishop Adriano Bernardini, apostolic nuncio in Madagascar, Mauritius and the Seychelles, as apostolic nuncio in Thailand, Singapore and Cambodia and apostolic delegate in Laos, Malaysia, Brunei and Myanmar.

- Appointed Msgr. Orlando Antonini, nunciature counsellor, as apostolic nuncio in Zambia and Malawi, at the same time elevating him to the dignity of archbishop. The archbishop-elect was born in Villa S. Angelo, Italy in 1944 and ordained a priest in 1968.

- Appointed Archbishop Mario Zenari, apostolic nuncio in the Ivory Coast and Niger, as apostolic nuncio in Burkina Faso.

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