OTHER PONTIFICAL ACTS

VATICAN CITY, 21 SEP 2011 (VIS) - The Holy Father:

- Accepted the resignation from the pastoral care of the archdiocese of Indianapolis, U.S.A., presented by Archbishop Daniel M. Buechlein O.S.B., in accordance with canon 401 para. 2 of the Code of Canon Law.

- Appointed Bishop Leonardo Ulrich Steiner O.F.M., prelate of Sao Felix, Brazil and secretary general of the National Conference of Bishops of Brazil, as auxiliary of Brasilia (area 5,814, population 2,196,000, Catholics 1,507,000, priests 294, permanent deacons 70, religious 652), Brazil. The bishop-elect was born in Forquilhinha, Brazil in 1950. He made his religious profession in the order of Friars Minor in 1976 and was ordained a priest in 1978. Following studies in Brazil and Rome he worked as a vice pastor and pastor, then as formator, master of novices and professor of philosophy. He was ordained a bishop in 2005.

- Appointed Bishop Giuseppe Versaldi of Alessandria, Italy, as president of the Prefecture for the Economic Affairs of the Holy See, at the same time elevating him to the dignity of archbishop. He succeeds Cardinal Velasio De Paolis C.S., whose resignation from the same office the Holy Father accepted, upon having reached the age limit.

- Appointed Fr. Lucio Angel Vallejo Balda of the clergy of the diocese of Astorga, Spain, administrator general of the bishopric of Astorga, secretary of the diocesan council for economic affairs and pastor of thirteen parishes, as secretary of the Prefecture for the Economic Affairs of the Holy See.

- Appointed Marco Buonocore, head archivist of the Vatican Apostolic Library, as president of the Pontifical Roman Academy of Archaeology.
RE:NEA:NA/ VIS 20110921 (280)