OTHER PONTIFICAL ACTS

VATICAN CITY, JUN 25, 2001 (VIS) - The Holy Father:

- Appointed Fr. Francesco Panfilo S.D.B., delegate of the Salesian Province in Papua New Guinea, as bishop of Alotau-Sideia (area 14,000, population 176,519, Catholics 30,000, priests 15, religious 42) Papua New Guinea. The bishop-elect was born in Vilminore, Italy, in 1942 and ordained a priest in 1974. He succeeds Bishop Desmond Charles Moore M.S.C., whose resignation from the pastoral care of the same diocese the Holy Father accepted, upon having reached the age limit.

- Appointed Fr. Abba Menghisteab Tesfamariam, M.C.C.I. coordinator of pastoral activities in Asmara (area 53,185, population 2,927,280, Catholics 44,646, priests 204, religious 638), Eritrea, as bishop of the same eparchy. The bishop-elect was born in Berakit, Eritrea, in 1948 and ordained a priest in 1979. He succeeds Bishop Zekarias Yohannes whose resignation from the pastoral care of the same eparchy the Holy Father accepted, in accordance with Canon 210, para. 1 of the Code of Canons of the Eastern Churches.

- Elevated Bishop Joan Marti Alanis of Urgell, Spain and Principality of Andorra, to the dignity of archbishop "ad personam."

- Appointed Bishop Joan Enric Vives Sicilia, auxiliary of Barcelona, Spain, as coadjutor of Urgell (area 7,630, population 178,080, Catholics 172,830, priests 124, permanent deacons 3, religious 190), Spain and Principality of Andorra.

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