OTHER PONTIFICAL ACTS

VATICAN CITY, OCT 4, 2001 (VIS) - The Holy Father:

- Accepted the resignation of Bishop Eugene John Gerber from the pastoral care of Wichita, U.S.A., in conformity with canon 401, para. 2, of the Code of Canon Law. He is succeeded by Coadjutor Bishop Thomas James Olmstead.

- Appointed Fr. Abba Thomas Osman, O.F.M. Cap., vicar general of the eparchy of Barentu (area 44,986, population 558,490, Catholics 37,000, priests 18, religious 39) Eritrea, as bishop of the same ecclesial circumscription. He succeeds Bishop Luca Milesi, 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. The bishop-elect was born in Lemuna, Eritrea, in 1950, and ordained to the priesthood in 1977.

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