OTHER PONTIFICAL ACTS

VATICAN CITY, MAR 20, 2000 (VIS) - The Holy Father appointed Fr. Jean-Louis Brugues O.P., of the Dominican province of Toulouse, professor at Fribourg Catholic University, as bishop of Angers (area 7,218, population 705,869, Catholics 573,000, priests 511, permanent deacons 17, religious 2,043), France. The bishop-elect was born in Bagueres de Bigorre, France, in 1943 and ordained a priest in 1975. He succeeds Bishop Jean Orchampt, whose resignation from the pastoral care of the same diocese the Holy Father accepted, upon having reached the age limit.

On Saturday March 18, it was made public that he:

- Appointed Msgr. Mansueto Bianchi, of the clergy of the archdiocese of Lucca, Italy, pastor and episcopal vicar for the laity, as bishop of Volterra (area 1,743, population 79,850, Catholics 79,700, priests 80, religious 116), Italy. The bishop-elect was born in S. Maria a Colle, Italy, in 1949 and ordained a priest in 1974. He succeeds Bishop Vasco Giuseppe Bertelli, whose resignation from the pastoral care of the same diocese the Holy Father accepted, upon having reached the age limit.

- Appointed Bishop Francesco Sgalambro, auxiliary of Messina-Lipari-S. Lucia del Mela, Italy, as bishop of Cefalu (area 1,718, population 115,130, Catholics 114,000, priests 104, religious 164), Italy. He succeeds Bishop Rosario Mazzola, whose resignation from the pastoral care of the same diocese the Holy Father accepted, upon having reached the age limit.

- Appointed Msgr. Claudio Baggini, vicar general of the diocese of Lodi, Italy, as bishop of Vigevano (area 1,509, population 176,000, Catholics 174,000, priests 127, permanent deacons 3, religious 264), Italy. The bishop-elect was born in Rome, Italy, in 1936 and ordained a priest in 1959. He succeeds Bishop Giovanni Locatelli, whose resignation from the pastoral care of the same diocese the Holy Father accepted, upon having reached the age limit.

- Appointed Msgr. Angelo Spinillo, of the clergy of Teggiano-Policastro (area 1,986, population 138,600, Catholics 137,600, priests 84, permanent deacons 2, religious 128), Italy, pastor and Catholic Action regional assistant for youth, as bishop of the same diocese. The bishop-elect was born in Sant'Arsenio Italy, in 1951 and ordained a priest in 1978.

- Appointed Fr. Jean-Vincent Ondo, pastor and vicar general in the archdiocese of Libreville, Gabon, as bishop of Oyem (area 84,540, population 195,000, Catholics 110,000, priests 20, religious 29), Gabon. The bishop-elect was born in Koulamoutou, Gabon, in 1960 and ordained a priest in 1990.

- Appointed Fr. Mathieu Madega, of the clergy of the diocese of Mouila, Gabon, rector of the Saint Augustine national seminary at Libreville, Gabon, as auxiliary of the archdiocese of Libreville (area 64,220, population 696,000, Catholics 416,000, priests 60, permanent deacons 1, religious 173). The bishop-elect was born in Mbigou, Gabon, in 1960 and ordained a priest in 1991.

- Appointed Msgr. Francesco Montenegro, of the clergy of Messina-Lipari-S. Lucia del Mela (area 1,848, population 518,360, Catholics 503,000, priests 435, permanent deacons 46, religious 957), Italy, pro-vicar general, as auxiliary bishop of the same archdiocese. The bishop-elect was born in Messina, Italy, in 1946 and ordained a priest in 1969.

- Appointed Fr. Miguel Romano Gomez of the clergy of Guadalajara (area 20,827, population 6,000,000, Catholics 5,700,000, priests 1,332, permanent deacons 2, religious 4,252), Mexico, spiritual director of the Major Seminary, as auxiliary bishop of the same archdiocese. The bishop-elect was born at El Paso, U.S.A., in 1959 and ordained a priest in 1985.

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