OTHER PONTIFICAL ACTS

VATICAN CITY, 9 JAN 2009 (VIS) - The Holy Father appointed Msgr. Seamus Cunningham of the clergy of the diocese of Hexham and Newcastle, England, diocesan administrator, as bishop of the same diocese (area 8,438, population 2,241,451, Catholics 200,361, priests 219, permanent deacons 11, religious 415). The bishop-elect was born in Knock, Ireland in 1942 and ordained a priest in 1966.
NER/.../CUNNINGHAM                        VIS 20090109 (70)