OTHER PONTIFICAL ACTS

VATICAN CITY, FEB 24, 1999 (VIS) - The Holy Father:

- Erected the diocese of Mamfe (area 10,500, population 337,000, Catholics 35,000, priests 8, religious 23), Cameroon, taking territory from the diocese of Buea, making it suffragan to the Metropolitan Church of Bamenda. Fr. Francis Teke Kysinge was appointed as first bishop of Mamfe. The bishop-elect was born in Muea, Cameroon, in 1938, was ordained a priest in 1966 and since 1975 has been spiritual director of the St. Thomas Aquinas Regional Major Seminary of Bambui.

- Appointed Bishop Miguel Pedro Mundo, auxiliary of the diocese of Jatai, as bishop of this diocese (area 62,698, population 380,000, Catholics 359,000, priests 27, religious 62), Brazil. He succeeds Bishop Benedito Domingos Coscia O.F.M., whose resignation from the pastoral care of this diocese was accepted by the Holy Father on having reached the age limit.

- Appointed Fr. Joaquin Pertinez Fernandez O.A.R., as bishop of Rio Branco (area 102,136, population 420,000, Catholics 353,000, priests 13, religious 84), Brazil. The bishop-elect was born in Monachil, Spain, in 1952, made his solemn profession in 1977, was ordained a priest in 1978, and since 1977 has been provincial delegate of the Augustinian Recollects for Central America, in Costa Rica.

- Appointed Msgr. Antonio Lino Silva Dinis as bishop of Itumbiara (area 21,871, population 262,928, Catholics 228,000, priests 22, religious 26), Brazil. The bishop-elect was born in Famalicao, Portugal, in 1943, was ordained a priest in 1966, and for a number of years has been rector of the St. Pius X diocesan seminary in Sete Lagoas, Brazil.

- Appointed Fr. Dieudonne Bogmis as auxiliary bishop of the archdiocese of Douala (area 1,200, population 1,950,000, Catholics 478,816, priests 80, religious 157), Cameroon. The bishop-elect was born in Nyanon, Cameroon, in 1955, was ordained a priest in 1983, and since 1990 has been spiritual director and dean of theology at Douala's Major Seminary.

- Appointed Msgr. Americo Ciani and Fr. Jair Ferreira Pena as prelate auditors of the Roman Rota.

- Appointed Fr. Babel Balazs as coadjutor archbishop of the archdiocese of Kalocsa-Kecskemet (area 8,372; population 539,188; Catholics 399,805, priests 102, religious 68), Hungary. The archbishop-elect was born in Gyon, Hungary, in 1950, was ordained a priest in 1976, and is currently rector of the Diocesan Seminary of Vac.
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PRESS CONFERENCE ON JUBILEE PREPARATIONS

VATICAN CITY, FEB 24, 1999 (VIS) - On Friday February 26, at 11:30 a.m., a second press conference will be held at the Holy See Press Office to report on organizational aspects of the Great Jubilee of the Year 2000.

Archbishop Cresenzio Sepe, secretary of the Central Committee of the Great Jubilee, and Francesco Silvano, delegate for telecommunications and information technology, will speak about the purpose and idea behind of the Pilgrim's Card and the computerized system of welcoming pilgrims. Likewise, Luca de Mata, responsible for the Jubilee Committee Internet Office will also speak on the Great Jubilee Web site.

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TELEGRAM FOR THE DEATH OF VICTIMS OF AVALANCHE IN AUSTRIA

VATICAN CITY, FEB 24, 1999 (VIS) - Cardinal Secretary of State Angelo Sodano sent a telegram to Bishop Alois Kothgasser of Innsbruck, Austria, following the alpine avalanche yesterday afternoon which hit the Austrian locality of Galtuer causing many victims.

"It was with sadness and consternation that the Holy Father received the news of the catastrophe caused by an avalanche which hit the Galtuer valley. The Holy Father expresses his spiritual closeness to family members who are mourning their loved ones or who fear for the lives of those close to them. He prays for the eternal repose of the souls of the deceased and remembers in his prayers the thoughts and worries of relatives and friends, praying to God for consolation and fortitude for them."

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