OTHER PONTIFICAL ACTS

VATICAN CITY, JAN 2, 2001 (VIS) - The Holy Father accepted the resignation from the pastoral care of Austin, U.S.A., presented by Bishop John E. McCarthy, in accordance with Canon 401, para. 2, of the Code of Canon Law. He is succeeded by Bishop Gregory M. Aymond, coadjutor of the same diocese.

On Saturday, December 30 2000, it was made public that he:

- Appointed Bishop Tome Makhweliha S.C.J., of Pemba, Mozambique, as metropolitan archbishop of Nampula (area 51,000, population 2,000,000, Catholics 245,845, priests 43, religious 183), Mozambique. The archbishop-elect was born in Mpwaha, Mozambique, in 1945, ordained a priest in 1973 and consecrated a bishop in 1997. He succeeds Archbishop Manuel Vieira Pinto, whose resignation from the pastoral care of the same archdiocese, the Holy Father accepted, upon having reached the age limit.

- Appointed Fr. Francisco Chimoio O.F.M. Cap., master of novices of the Mozambique vice-province of Mozambique of the Friars Minor Capuchins, as bishop of Pemba (area 82,625, population 2,000,000, Catholics 371,578, priests 20, religious 43), Mozambique. The bishop-elect was born in Bura, Mozambique, in 1947 and ordained a priest in 1979.

- Accepted the resignation from the office of apostolic administrator "ad nutum Sanctae Sedis" of the apostolic prefecture of Karafuto, Japan, presented by Bishop Peter Toshio Jinushi of Sapporo, Japan. He appointed Bishop Jerzy Mazur S.V.D., apostolic administrator of Eastern Siberia, as apostolic administrator "ad nutum Sanctae Sedis" of the same apostolic prefecture.

- Accepted the resignation from the pastoral care of the diocese of Ban Me Thuot, Vietnam, presented by Bishop Joseph Trinh Chinh Truc, upon having reached the age limit. He is succeeded by Bishop Joseph Nguyen Tich Duc, coadjutor of the same diocese.

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