OTHER PONTIFICAL ACTS

VATICAN CITY, FEB 1, 2003 (VIS) - The Holy Father:

- Appointed Fr. Fausto Gabriel Travez Travez, O.F.M., superior of the Convent of Ambato in Ecuador as the apostolic vicar of Zamora (area 20,000, population 120,966, Catholics 105,828, priests 18, permanent deacons 1, religious 59), Ecuador. The bishop-elect was born in 1941 in Toacazo, Ecuador and was ordained a priest in 1970. The Holy Father accepted the resignation from the pastoral care of the same apostolic vicariate presented by Bishop Serafin Cartagena Oca¤a, O.F.M., upon having reached the age limit.

- Appointed Fr. Julien Andavo Mbia, rector of the Interdiocesan Institute of Philosophy of Kisangani in the Democratic Republic of Congo as bishop of Isiro-Niangara (area 60,000, population 705,233, Catholics 518,875, priests 108, religious 217), Democratic Republic of Congo. The bishop-elect was born in 1950 in Faradje, Democratic Republic of Congo and was ordained a priest in 1979.

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