OTHER PONTIFICAL ACTS

VATICAN CITY, DEC 1, 2006 (VIS) - The Holy Father:

 - Appointed Fr. Manuel Antonio Mendes dos Santos C.M.F., provincial superior of the Congregation of Missionary Sons of the Immaculate Heart of Mary, as bishop of Sao Tome and Principe (area 1,000, population 140,000, Catholics 103,000, priests 12, religious 39). The bishop-elect was born in Sao Joanhinho, Portugal in 1960 and ordained a priest in 1985. He succeeds Abilio Rodas de Sousa Ribas C.S.Sp., whose resignation from the pastoral care of the same diocese, the Holy Father accepted, upon having reached the age limit.

 - Appointed Fr. Emilio Sumbelelo, judicial vicar of the diocese of Benguela, Angola, as coadjutor bishop of the diocese of Uije (area 63,467, population 1,295,555, Catholics 572,500, priests 49, religious 92), Angola. The bishop-elect was born in Cubal, Angola, in 1964 and ordained a priest in 1991.
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