OTHER PONTIFICAL ACTS

VATICAN CITY, SEP 16, 2003 (VIS) - The Holy Father:

- Accepted the resignation from the pastoral care of the diocese of Richmond, U.S.A., presented by Bishop Walter Francis Sullivan upon having reached the age limit.

- Appointed Fr. Jose Refugio Mercado Diaz, episcopal vicar and pastor in the archdiocese of Guadalajara, Mexico, as auxiliary bishop of the diocese of Tehauntepec (area 25,500, population 1,452,000, Catholics 1,145,000, priests 61, religious 131), Mexico. The bishop-elect was born in Ixtlahuacan del Rio, Mexico in 1942 and was ordained priest in 1972.

RE; NER;...;...;SULLIVAN; MERCADO ;VIS;20030916;Word: 90;