OTHER PONTIFICAL ACTS

VATICAN CITY, 28 APR 2011 (VIS) - Today the Holy Father appointed Fr. Virgilio do Nascimento Antunes, rector of Nossa Senhora de Fatima Sanctuary, as bishop of the Diocese of Coimbra (area 5,300, population 564,300, Catholics 507,000, priests 187, permanent deacons 8, religious 332), Portugal. The bishop-elect was born in Sao Mamede, Batalha, Portugal in 1961 and ordained a priest in 1985. He succeeds Bishop Albino Mamede Cleto, whose resignation from the pastoral care of the same diocese the Holy Father accepted, upon having reached the age limit.

NER:RE/                                                                                VIS 20110428 (90)

EXHIBIT DEDICATED TO JOHN PAUL II

VATICAN CITY, 28 APR 2011 (VIS) - Tomorrow morning the exhibit "John Paul II:  Homage of Benedict XVI for the Beatification" will open in the Charlemagne Wing of Bernini's colonnades around St. Peter's Square and remain open until 24 July.

  The exhibition, organized by the Governorate of the Vatican City State in collaboration with the Polish Embassy to the Holy See and the Polish Culture and Heritage Ministry, is divided into 15 sections illustrating the life and pontificate of Karol Wojtyla, from his infancy and childhood in Wadowice to the last stage of his life and solemn funeral on 8 April 2005. With a wealth of detail it presents all the moments and aspects of the life of the newly beatified pope.

  During the exhibit's inaugural ceremony, in the presence of Cardinal Tarcisio Bertone, Secretary of State, and various other figures, the official stamps issued jointly by the Vatican City State and Poczta Polska (Polish Post) will be presented.
.../ VIS 20110428 (150)

IN MEMORIAM

VATICAN CITY, 28 APR 2011 (VIS) - The following prelates died in recent weeks:

 - Cardinal Varkey Vithayathil, C.SS.R., major archbishop of Ernakulam-Angamaly of the Syro-Malabars, on 1 April at the age of 83.

- Bishop Patrick Vincent Ahern, auxiliary bishop emeritus of New York, USA, on 19 March at the age of  92.

- Bishop William Henry Bullock, emeritus of Madison, USA,  on 3 April at the age of 83.

- Bishop Louis Dufaux, emeritus of Grenoble, France, on 14 April at the age of 79.

- Bishop Ioan Sisestean, of Maramures of the Romanians, Romania, on 12 April at the age of 74.
.../ VIS 20110428 (100)