OTHER PONTIFICAL ACTS

VATICAN CITY, JAN 25, 1999 (VIS) - The Holy Father:

- Appointed Bishop Antonio Vitalino Fernandez Dantas, O.Carm., auxiliary of the patriarchate of Lisbon, as bishop of Beja (area 12,300, population 226,000, Catholics 190,000, priests 57, religious 94), Portugal. He succeeds Bishop Manuel Franco da Costa de Oliveira Falcao, whose resignation from the pastoral care of the diocese of Beja was accepted by the Holy Father upon having reached the age limit.

- Appointed Bishop Paul S. Loverde of Ogdensburg, as bishop of Arlington (area 16,935, population 2,115,700, Catholics 311,351, priests 218, religious 289), United States of America.

- Appointed Fr. Philippe Ranaivomanana, as bishop of Ihosy (area 40,990, population 321,500, Catholics 32,500, priests 31, religious 70), Madagascar. The bishop-elect was born in Sarobatra, Madagascar, in 1949, was ordained a priest in 1977, and since 1996 has been vicar general of the diocese of Ansirabe.

On Saturday January 23, it was made public that the Holy Father appointed Bishop Salvatore Gristina, auxiliary of Palermo, as bishop of Acireale (area 665, population 219,578, Catholics 218,323, priests 184, religious 397), Italy.

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