OTHER PONTIFICAL ACTS

VATICAN CITY, FEB 5, 2000 (VIS) - The Holy Father:

- Accepted the resignation from the pastoral care of the diocese of Alto Parana, Paraguay, presented by Bishop Oscar Paez Garcete, in accordance with canon 401, para. 2 of the Code of Canon Law.

- Appointed Bishop Rocco Talucci of Tursi-Lagonegro, Italy, as archbishop of Brindisi-Ostuni (area 1,247, population 283,156, Catholics 281,000, priests 149, permanent deacons 6, religious 275), Italy. The archbishop-elect was born at Venosa, Italy, in 1936, ordained a priest in 1961 and consecrated a bishop in 1988. He succeeds Archbishop Settimio Todisco, whose resignation from the pastoral care of the same archdiocese the Holy Father accepted, upon having reached the age limit.

- Appointed Bishop Luciano Bux, auxiliary of Bari-Bitonto, Italy, as bishop of Oppido Mamertina-Palmi (area 930, population 177,430, Catholics 173,000, priests 101, permanent deacons 3, religious 263), Italy.

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