OTHER PONTIFICAL ACTS

VATICAN CITY, FEB 22, 2001 (VIS) - The Holy Father:

- Accepted the resignation of Bishop Gerardo Humberto Flores Reyes from the pastoral care of Vera Paz, Coban (area 11,810, population 1,040,600, Catholics 908,600, priests 67, permanent deacons 1, religious 206) Guatemala, in conformity with the age limit. He is succeeded by Coadjutor Bishop Rodolfo Valenzuela Nunez.

- Appointed Fr. Donal McKeown, president of St. Malachy's College, Belfast, as auxiliary to the bishop of Down and Connor (area 2,419, population 1,000,000, Catholics 307,394, priests 275, religious 453), Ireland. The bishop-elect was born in Randalstown, Ireland, in 1950, and ordained to the priesthood in 1977.

- Adopted the following provisions relative to the new Fundamental Law of Vatican City State which went into effect today:
- Confirmed Cardinal Edmund Casimir Szoka as president of the Pontifical Commission for Vatican City State, at the same time appointing him president of the Governorate.
- Confirmed Cardinals Andrzej Maria Deskur, Carlo Furno, and Lorenzo Antonetti, as members of the Pontifical Commission for Vatican City State, and appointed Cardinals Angelo Sodano, Giovanni Battista Re, and Agostino Cacciavillan as members of the same Pontifical Commission.
- Confirmed Bishop Gianni Danzi as Secretary General of the Governorate of Vatican City State and Msgr. Giorgio Corbellini as its Vice Secretary General.
- Appointed Giulio Sacchetti as Counsellor General of Vatican City State, and appointed Bishop Francesco Saverio Salerno, Alessandro Torlonia, Gian Carlo Perone, Alberto Quadrio Curzio, Francesco Rebecchini, Francesco Silvano, Angelo Caloia, and Virgil Dechant, as Counsellors of State.

RE; NEA; NA...;...VIS 20010222 (240);...;