OTHER PONTIFICAL ACTS

VATICAN CITY, MAR 21, 2005 (VIS) - The Holy Father:

 - Accepted the resignation from the pastoral care of the archdiocese of Wellington, New Zealand, presented by Cardinal Thomas Stafford Williams, upon having reached the age limit. Cardinal Williams is succeeded by Coadjutor Archbishop John Atcherley Dew.

 - Appointed Bishop Paul Hinder O.F.M. Cap., auxiliary of the apostolic vicariate of Arabia (area 3,143,669, population 47,760,000 Catholics 1,300,000 priests 42, permanent deacons 2, religious 98), Arabian Peninsula, as apostolic vicar of the same apostolic vicariate. He succeeds Bishop Giovanni Bernardo Gremoli O.F.M. Cap., whose resignation from the pastoral care of the same apostolic vicariate the Holy Father accepted, upon having reached the age limit.

  On Saturday, March 19, it was made public that the Holy Father appointed Bishop Stefan Cichy, auxiliary of Katowice, Poland, as bishop of Legnica (area 8,500, population 1,051,984, Catholics 983,840, priests 574, religious 370), Poland. He succeeds Bishop Tadeusz Rybak whose resignation from the pastoral care of the same diocese the Holy Father accepted, upon having reached the age limit.
RE:NER/.../...                                    VIS 20050321 (180)