OTHER PONTIFICAL ACTS

VATICAN CITY, MAR 17, 2003 (VIS) - The Holy Father appointed Fr. Martin Musonde Kivuva, co-director of the Catholic television production company "Ukweli Video" of Nairobi, as bishop of Machakos (area 15,183, population 2,008,889, Catholics 630,263, priests 106, religious 210), Kenya. The bishop-elect was born in Muthetheni, Kenya in 1952 and was ordained a priest in 1978. The Holy Father accepted the resignation from the pastoral care of the same diocese presented by Bishop Urbanus Joseph Kioko, in accordance with Canon 401, para. 2 of the Code of Canon Law.

On Saturday March 15 it was made public that the Holy Father:
- Accepted the resignation from the pastoral care of the diocese of Garzon, Colombia presented by Bishop Libardo Ramirez Gomez in accordance with Canon 401, para. 2 of the Code of Canon Law.

- Appointed Fr. Callistus Rubaramira, of the clergy of Kabale, Uganda and diocesan treasurer, as bishop of the same diocese (area 5,330, population 1,468,800, Catholics 606,900, priests 97, religious 180). The bishop-elect was born in Kabale in 1950 and was ordained a priest in 1975. The Holy Father accepted the resignation from the pastoral care of the same diocese presented by Bishop Robert Gay, M.Af., upon having reached the age limit.

- Appointed Bishop Francisco Javier Martinez Fernandez of Cordoba, Spain as metropolitan archbishop of Granada (area 6,945, population 693,900, Catholics 674,828, priests 457, religious 1711), Spain. The archbishop-elect was born in Madrid, Spain in 1947 and was ordained a priest in 1972.

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