OTHER PONTIFICAL ACTS

VATICAN CITY, JUL 28, 2001 (VIS) - The Holy Father:

- Accepted the resignation of Bishop Bernardo Enrique Witte, O.M.I., from the pastoral care of the diocese of Concepcion (area 11,800, population 300,000, Catholics 270,000, priests 29, permanent deacons 5, religious 37), Argentina, in accordance with the age limit. He is succeeded by Coadjutor Bishop Jose Maria Rossi, O.P.

- Appointed Bishop Jaume Traserra Cunillera, auxiliary of Barcelona, as bishop of Solsona (area 3,536, population 119,234, Catholics 102,300, priests 134, religious 258), Spain. He succeeds Bishop Antonio Deig Clotet, whose resignation from the pastoral care of the same diocese the Holy Father accepted, in accordance with the age limit.

- Appointed Fr. Benoit Comlan Messan Alowonou, of the clergy of the archdiocese of Lome, professor and adjunct spiritual director at the Major Inter-diocesan John Paul II Seminary in Lome, as bishop of Kpalime (area 6,447, population 671,305, Catholics 248,150, priests 50, religious 98), Togo. The bishop-elect was born in Tsevie, Togo, in 1949, and ordained to the priesthood in 1984.

- Appointed Msgr. Ivan Jurkovic, nunciature counsellor, as apostolic nuncio in Belarus, at the same time elevating him to the dignity of archbishop. The archbishop-elect was born in Kocevje, Slovenia, in 1952, and ordained to the priesthood in 1977.

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