OTHER PONTIFICAL ACTS

VATICAN CITY, FEB 28, 2004 (VIS) - The Holy Father:

- Accepted the resignation from the pastoral care of the diocese of Lebanon-Honda, Colombia, presented by Bishop Rafael Arcadio Bernal Supelano, C.SS.R., in accordance with Canon 401, para. 2, of the Code of Canon Law.

- Accepted the resignation from the office of auxiliary presented by Bishop Riccardo Ruotolo of the archdiocese of Manfredonia-Vieste-San Giovanni Rotondo, Italy upon having reached the age limit.

- Appointed Fr. Pietro Coccia, director of the Institute of Religious Sciences in the diocese of Ascoli Piceno, Italy, as metropolitan archbishop of Pesaro (area 287, population 119,890, Catholics 117,200, priests 107, permanent deacons 8, religious 145), Italy. The bishop-elect was born in 1945 in Ascoli Piceno and was ordained a priest in 1972.

- Appointed Archbishop Michael Miller, secretary of the Congregation for Catholic Education, as consultant of the Congregation of Bishops.
RE:NER:NA/./BERNAL:COCCIA:MILLER VIS 20040301 (160)