OTHER PONTIFICAL ACTS

Vatican City, 4 November 2013 (VIS) - Today, the Holy Father:

- accepted the resignation from the pastoral care of the archdiocese of Salzburg, Austria, presented by Archbishop Alois Kothgasser S.D.B., upon having reached the age limit.

- appointed Msgr. Carlo Bresciani of the clergy of Brescia as bishop of San Benedetto del Tronto-Ripatransone-Montalto (area 456, population 138,267, Catholics 131,059, priests 113, permanent deacons 14, religious 190), Italy. The bishop-elect was born in Nave, Italy in 1949 and was ordained a priest in 1975. He holds a licentiate in psychology and a doctorate in theology from the Pontifical Gregorian University. He has served in a number of pastoral and academic roles, including lecturer at the Catholic University of Milan, ecclesiastical assistant of the Associazione dei Medici Cattolici Italiani, director of the Higher Institute of Religious Sciences at the Catholic University, Brescia, director of the Higher Institute of Formators in Brescia, linked to the Institute of Psychology of the Pontifical Gregorian University, consultor of the Congregation for Catholic Education, and rector of the diocesan seminary of Brescia. He succeeds Bishop Gervasio Gestori, whose resignation from the pastoral care of the same diocese the Holy Father accepted, upon having reached the age limit.

-appointed Msgr. Valerio Lazzeri as bishop of Lugano (area 2,811, population 317,000, Catholics 241,000, priests 257, permanent deacons 6, religious 470), Switzerland. The bishop-elect was born in Dongio, Switzerland in 1963 and was ordained a priest in 1989. He holds a doctorate in theology from the Pontifical Gregorian University and has served in a number of roles, including vice-rector and lecturer at the Collegio Papio in Ascona, parish vicar in Locarno, lecturer in spiritual theology and patristics at the faculty of Lugano, and episcopal vicar for the Religious. In Rome he served in the Congregation for Catholic Education. He succeeds Bishop Pier Giacomo Grampa, whose resignation from the pastoral care of the same diocese the Holy Father accepted, upon having reached the age limit.

- appointed Msgr. Jozef Gorzynski and Msgr. Rafal Markowski as auxiliary bishops of Warszawa (area 3,350, population 1,543,700, Catholics 1,429,000, priests 1,220, permanent deacons 1, religious 2,604), Poland.

Bishop-elect Gorzynski, of the clergy of Warszawa, was born in Zelechow, Poland in 1959 and ordained to the priesthood in 1985. He holds a licentiate in liturgy from the St. Anselm Pontifical Athenaeum, and a doctorate from the Academy of Catholic Theology in Warszawa, now the Cardinal Stefan Wyszynski University, and has served in a number of roles, such as vicar in the parish of Grojec, prefect of discipline in the major seminary of Warszawa, president of the theological commission at the national college of co-ordinators of Renewal in the Spirit, vice-president of the liturgical commission of the archdiocese of Warszawa, and priest in the parish of “Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary” in Warszawa. He is currently moderator of the metropolitan Curia.

Bishop-elect Markowski was born in Jozefow, Poland in 1958, and was ordained to the priesthood in 1982. He holds a doctorate in theology from the Academy of Catholic Theology in Warszawa, now the Cardinal Stefan Wyszynski University, and has served in a number of roles, including parish vicar in Warka, prefect of discipline in the major seminary of Warszawa, and director of the “Plus” radio station, subsequently “Radio Jozef”. He is currently spokesman and administrator for the archbishop of Warszawa, rector of the church of “Blessed Virgin Mary Mother of God”, adjunct professor at the Cardinal Stefan Wyszynski University and member of the Commission of the Polish Episcopal Conference for dialogue with non-Christian religions.

Bishops-elect Gorzynski and Markowski succeed Bishop Marian Dus, whose resignation from the office of auxiliary of the same archdiocese upon reaching the age limit was accepted by the Holy Father.

- appointed Msgr. Eugeniusz Miroslaw Popowicz as auxiliary bishop of the archieparchy of Przemysl-Warszawa of the Byzantines.(catholics 30,000, priests 48, permanent deacons 4, religious 90), Poland. Bishop-elect Popowicz was born in Czluchow, Poland in 1961 and was ordained a priest in 1986. He holds a doctorate in eastern canon law from the Pontifical Oriental Institute in Rome, and has held a number of roles including parish vicar at Elblag and Paslek; judicial vicar and lecturer at the major seminary of Leopoli; episcopal vicar and parish priest at Gorowo Ilaweckie and Lelkowo; and member of the presbyteral Council and of the College of consultors and the economic Council. He is currently priest of the Byzantine cathedral of Przemysl and protosyncellus of the archieparchy.

- appointed Fr. Georges Abou Khazen, O.F.M., as apostolic vicar of Alep of the Latins, Syria, at the same time elevating him to the dignity of bishop. Bishop-elect Abou Khazen was born in Ain Zebdeh, Lebanon in 1972 and was ordained to the priesthood in 1973. He has served as parish priest in Bethlehem and in Jerusalem, and is guardian and parish priest of St. Francis in Aleppo and vicar general for the north of Syria. He is currently apostolic administrator “sede vacante et ad nutum Sanctae Sedis” of the vicariate of Alep of the Latins.

- accepted the resignation from the office of esarch and superior general of the Congregation of Italy of the Basilian Monks, presented by the Archimandrite Father Emiliano Fabbricatore, O.S.B.I., in conformity with Canon 210, para 2 of the Code of Canons of the Oriental Churches

- appointed Bishop Marcello Semeraro of Albano, Italy, as apostolic administrator “ad nutum Sanctae Sedis” of the Esarchic Monastery of St. Mary of Grottaferrata.

- appointed Abbot Michel Van Parys, O.S.B., as superior of the territorial abbey of St. Mary of Grottaferrata.

On Friday, 1 November the Holy Father:

- accepted the resignation from the pastoral care of the archdiocese of Mombasa, Kenya presented by Bishop Boniface Lele, in accordance with canon 401 para. 2 of the Code of Canon Law, and appointed Bishop Emmanuel Barbera, O.F.M. Cap. of Malindi as apostolic administrator “sede vacante et ad nutum Sanctae Sedis” of the archdiocese of Mombasa.

- accepted the resignation from the office of auxiliary of the diocese of Cleveland, U.S.A., presented by Bishop Roger W. Gries, O.S.B., upon having reached the age limit.

- appointed Bishop Max Leroy Mesidor of Fort-Liberté, Haiti, as coadjutor archbishop of Cap-Haitien.