OTHER PONTIFICAL ACTS

VATICAN CITY, DEC 20, 2000 (VIS) - The Holy Father:

- Accepted the resignation from the pastoral care of the diocese of Bunbury, Australia, presented by Bishop Peter Quinn, in accordance with Canon 401, para. 2 of the Code of Canon Law.

- Appointed Bishop Antonio Gaspar, auxiliary of Sao Paulo, Brazil, as bishop of Barretos (area 8,558, population 294,281, Catholics 226,000, priests 22, religious 63), Brazil. He succeeds Bishop Pedro Fre C.SS.R., whose resignation from the pastoral care of the same diocese the Holy Father accepted, upon having reached the age limit.

- Appointed Fr. Ismael Rueda Sierra of the diocese of Girardot, Colombia, rector of the major seminary of that diocese, as auxiliary bishop of Cartagena (area 8,000, population 1,400,000, Catholics 1,249,000, priests 126, permanent deacons 2, religious 324), Colombia. The bishop-elect was born in Suata, Colombia, in 1950 and ordained a priest in 1981.

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