OTHER PONTIFICAL ACTS

VATICAN CITY, JUN 4, 2003 (VIS) - The Holy Father:

- Appointed Fr. Jose Geraldo da Cruz, A.A., provincial superior of the Augustinian Fathers of the Assumption, as bishop of Juazeiro (area 56,649, population 419,674, Catholics 350,000, priests 18, religious 29), Brazil. The bishop-elect was born in 1941 in Muriae, Brazil and was ordained a priest in 1969. The Holy Father accepted the resignation from the pastoral care of the same diocese presented by Bishop Jose Rodrigues de Souza, C.S.S.R., upon having reached the age limit.

- Appointed Fr. Oscar Fernandez Guillen, of the clergy of the archdiocese of San Jose, Costa Rica, as bishop of Puntarenas (area 3,910, population 180,380, Catholics 161,200, priests 26, religious 24), Costa Rica. The bishop-elect was born in San Rafael de Oreamuno, Costa Rica in 1949 and was ordained a priest in 1977.

- Appointed Bishop Milton Antonio dos Santos, S.D.B., of Corumba, Brazil, as coadjutor bishop of Cuiaba (area 24,542, population 800,000, Catholics 700,000, priests 61, religious 193), Brazil.

NER; RE; NEC;...;...;... ;VIS;20030604;Word: 160;