OTHER PONTIFICAL ACTS

VATICAN CITY, 15 APR 2008 (VIS) - The Holy Father appointed Fr. Nestor Montesdeoca Becerra S.D.B., director of the Don Bosco Salesian Community of Quito - La Tola, Ecuador, as apostolic vicar of the apostolic vicariate of Mendez (area 25,691, population 183,348, Catholics 120,000, priests 38, religious 98), Ecuador. The bishop-elect was born in El Pan in 1957 and ordained a priest in 1986. He succeeds Bishop Pietro Gabrielli S.D.B., whose resignation from the pastoral care of the same apostolic vicariate the Holy Father accepted, upon having reached the age limit.
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BENEDICT XVI BEGINS HIS APOSTOLIC TRIP TO THE U.S.A.

VATICAN CITY, 15 APR 2008 (VIS) - At midday today, the Holy Father departed from Rome's Fiumicino airport. Following a flight of more than 7,000 kilometres, his plane is due to land at 4 p.m. local time (10 p.m. in Rome) at Andrews Air Force Base near Washington D.C. This is the Benedict XVI's eighth apostolic trip outside Italy and his first to the U.S.A. as Pope.

  U.S. President George W. Bush and his wife Laura will welcome the Pope as he descends from his aircraft. No speeches are scheduled for this first meeting and the welcome ceremony proper will take place tomorrow at 10.30 a.m. local time (4.30 p.m. in Rome) at the White House, official residence of the U.S. president.

  After landing, Benedict XVI will travel by car to the apostolic nunciature in Washington D.C where he will spend the rest of the day.

  Tomorrow, 16 April, is the Pope's 81st birthday, and Saturday 19 April, will mark the third anniversary of his election to the pontifical throne.
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