OTHER PONTIFICAL ACTS

VATICAN CITY, JUN 11, 2003 (VIS) - The Holy Father:

- Accepted the resignation from the pastoral care of the diocese of Ponce, Puerto Rico, presented by Bishop Antonio Surinach Carreras upon having reached the age limit. Coadjutor Bishop Felix Lazaro, Sch.P., succeeds him.

- Appointed Fr. Jose Corozon T. Talaoc, vicar general of the diocese of Romblon, the Philippines, as bishop of the same diocese (area 1,355, population 264,034, Catholics 196,175, priests 39, religious 38). The bishop-elect was born in 1950 in Tagas, the Philippines and was ordained a priest in 1979.

- Appointed Bishop Buenaventura M. Famadico, auxiliary of Lipa, the Philippines, as bishop of the diocese of Gumaca (area 3,666, population 758,274, Catholics 705,958, priests 55, religious 67), the Philippines.

- Appointed Bishop Jose Paala Salazar, O.P., auxiliary of Butuan, the Philippines, as auxiliary bishop of the archdiocese of Lipa (area 3,165, population 1,928,213, Catholics 1,850,192, priests 147, religious 351), the Philippines.

- Appointed Bishop Zacharias C. Jimenez of Pagadian, the Philippines as auxiliary bishop of the diocese of Butuan (area 11,555, population 1,350,205, Catholics 1,080,164, priests 100, religious 136), the Philippines.

- Appointed Bishop Nestor C. Carino, emeritus of Borongan, Philippines, as auxiliary bishop of the diocese of Daet (area 2,212, population 477,852, Catholics 458,738, priests 42, religious 45), the Philippines.

- Appointed as auxiliary bishops of the archdiocese of Sao Sebastiao do Rio de Janeiro (area 1,261, population 5,857,904, Catholics 4,041,954, priests 613, permanent deacons 33, religious 1,639), Brazil: Fr. Dimas Lara Barbosa, secretary of the episcopal conference's National Institute of Pastoral Ministries. The bishop-elect was born in Boa Esperanca, Brazil in 1956 and was ordained a priest in 1988; Fr. Wilson Tadeu Jonck, S.C.I., assistant to the Director of Novices of Jaragua do Sul in the diocese of Joinville. The bishop-elect was born in 1951 in Vidal Ramos, Brazil and was ordained a priest in 1977.

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