OTHER PONTIFICAL ACTS

VATICAN CITY, MAY 8, 2002 (VIS) - The Holy Father:

- Accepted the resignation from the pastoral care of the diocese of Umuarama, Brazil, presented by Bishop Jose Maria Maimone S.A.C., in accordance with Canon 401, para. 2 of the Code of Canon Law.

- Appointed Bishop Washington Cruz C.P., of Sao Luis de Montes Belos, Brazil, as metropolitan archbishop of Goiania (area 13,855, population 1,769,937, Catholics 1,274,300, priests 151, permanent deacons 1, religious 634), Brazil. The archbishop-elect was born in Itabuna, Brazil, in 1946, ordained a priest in 1971 and consecrated bishop in 1987. He succeeds Archbishop Antonio Ribeiro de Oliveira, whose resignation from the pastoral care of the same archdiocese the Holy Father accepted, upon having reached the age limit.

- Appointed Bishop Federico Heimler S.D.B., coadjutor of Umuarama, Brazil, as bishop of Cruz Alta (area 16,325, population 396,259, Catholics 356,633, priests 50, permanent deacons 1, religious 174), Brazil. He succeeds Bishop Jacob Roberto Hilgert, whose resignation from the pastoral care of the same diocese the Holy Father accepted upon, having reached the age limit.

- Appointed Fr. Jacinto Bergmann of the clergy of the archdiocese of Porto Alegre, Brazil, under-secretary for pastoral care of the national episcopal conference, as auxiliary of Pelotas (area 20,737, population 511,505, Catholics 295,061, priests 51, permanent deacons 3, religious 175), Brazil. The bishop-elect was born in Alto Feliz, Brazil, in 1951 and ordained a priest in 1976.

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