OTHER PONTIFICAL ACTS

VATICAN CITY, DEC 13, 2006 (VIS) - The Holy Father:

 - Accepted the resignation from the pastoral care of the diocese of Zamora, Mexico, presented by Bishop Carlos Suarez Cazares, in accordance with canon 401 para. 2 of the Code of Canon Law.

 - Appointed Fr. Wilfredo Pino Estevez of the clergy of the archdiocese of Camaguey, Cuba, episcopal vicar and pastor, as bishop of Guantanamo-Baracoa (area 6,565, population 512,555, Catholics 183,086, priests 10, permanent deacons 5, religious 16), Cuba. The bishop-elect was born in Camaguey in 1950 and ordained a priest in 1975. He succeeds Bishop Carlos Jesus Patricio Baladron Valdes, whose resignation from the pastoral care of the same diocese, the Holy Father accepted, in accordance with canon 401 para. 2 of the Code of Canon Law.

 - Appointed Msgr. Jorge Enrique Serpa Perez, rector of the major seminary of San Cristobal de La Habana, Cuba, as bishop of Pinar del Rio (area 13,500, population 1,888,000, Catholics 811,844, priests 24, religious 38), Cuba. The bishop-elect was born in Santa Clara, Cuba in 1942 and ordained a priest in 1968. He succeeds Bishop Jose Siro Gonzalez Bacallao, whose resignation from the pastoral care of the same diocese, the Holy Father accepted, upon having reached the age limit.

 - Accepted the resignation from the pastoral care of the eparchy of Sao Joao Batista em Curitiba of the Ukrainians, Brazil, presented by Bishop Efraim Basilio Krevey O.S.B.M., in accordance with canon 210 para. 1 of the Code of Canons of the Eastern Churches. He is succeeded by Coadjutor Bishop Valdomiro Koubetch O.S.B.M.

 - Accepted the resignation from the office of auxiliary of the archdiocese of New Orleans, U.S.A., presented by Bishop Dominic Carmon S.V.D., upon having reached the age limit.

 - Appointed Fr. Shelton Joseph Fabre of the clergy of the archdiocese of Baton Rouge, U.S.A., pastor of the parish of the Sacred Heart, as auxiliary of the archdiocese of New Orleans (area 10,898, population 1,361,488, Catholics 490,898, priests 413, permanent deacons 189, religious 1,020), U.S.A. The bishop-elect was born in New Road, U.S.A. in 1963 and ordained a priest in 1989.
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