Erected: Saint Thomas the Apostle of Sydney (Chaldean), Kassab named Bishop

The Eparchy of Saint Thomas the Apostle of Sydney (Chaldean), Australia was erected. Archbishop Djibrail Kassab was named its first Bishop (while retaining the personal title of Archbishop).

Ríos Reynoso resigned, Del Río Alba succeeded as Arequipa Archbishop

Archbishop José Paulino Ríos Reynoso resigned and Archbishop Javier Augusto Del Río Alba succeeded as Archbishop of Arequipa, Peru.

Colaço named Aurangabad Bishop

Bishop Edwin Colaço was named Bishop of Aurangabad, India. The diocese had been vacant since the death of Bishop Sylvester Monteiro in August 2005. Bishop Colaço had been serving as Bishop of Amravati.

Semeniuk named Ternopil-Zboriv (Ukrainian) Bishop

Bishop Vasyl Semeniuk was named Bishop of Ternopil-Zboriv (Ukrainian), Ukraine. The diocese had been vacant since the death of Bishop Mykhajlo Sabryha, C.SS.R. in June 2006. Bishop Semeniuk had been serving as an Auxiliary Bishop of the same diocese.

Fernando retired, Mendis succeeded as Chilaw Bishop

Bishop Frank Marcus Fernando retired and Bishop Warnakulasurya Wadumestrige Devasritha Valence Mendis succeeded as Bishop of Chilaw, Sri Lanka.

d'Ornellas named Rennes Coadjutor

Archbishop-designate Pierre d'Ornellas was named Coadjutor Archbishop of Rennes (, Dol, e Saint-Melo), France. He had been serving as an Auxiliary Bishop of Paris.

Medroso named Tagbilaran Bishop

Bishop Leonardo Yuzon Medroso was named Bishop of Tagbilaran, Philippines. The diocese had been vacant since Bishop Leopoldo Sumaylo Tumulak was named the Ordinary for the Philippines Military. Bishop Medroso had been serving as Bishop of Borongan.

Kenney named Birmingham Auxiliary

Bishop William Kenney, C.P. was named Auxiliary Bishop of Birmingham, England, Great Britain. Bishop Kenney had been serving as an Auxiliary Bishop of Stockholm, Sweden.

Haddad named Baniyas Archbishop

Archbishop-designate Georges Nicolas Haddad, S.M.S.P. was named Archbishop of Baniyas {Cesarea di Filippo; Paneade} (Melkite), Lebanon.

Brislin named Kroonstad Bishop

Bishop-elect Stephen Brislin was named Bishop of Kroonstad, South Africa. The diocese had been vacant since the death of Bishop Johannes Ludgerus Bonaventure Brenninkmeijer, O.P. in July 2003.

Arbach named Argentina Exarch

Bishop-elect Abdo Arbach, B.C. was named Exarch of Argentina, Faithful of the Oriental Rite (Melkite) and titular bishop of Hilta.

Abrass named Titular Bishop

Bishop-elect Michel Abrass was named Titular Bishop of Abydus.

Benavente Mateos named Albacete Bishop

Bishop Ciriaco Benavente Mateos was named Bishop of Albacete, Spain. The diocese had been vacant since Bishop Francisco Cases Andreu was named Bishop of Islas Canarias {Canary Islands} in November 2005. Bishop Benavente Mateos had been serving as Bishop of Coria-Cáceres.

Agboville erected; Youlo named Bishop

The diocese of Agboville, Côte d'Ivoire was erected with territory taken from the diocese of Yopougon. Bishop-elect Alexis Touably Youlo was named its first Bishop.

Pelvi named Italy, Military Archbishop

Archbishop-designate Vincenzo Pelvi was named Archbishop of Italy, Military. The archdiocese had been vacant since Archbishop Angelo Bagnasco was named Archbishop of Genova {Genoa} in August 2006. Archbishop-deisgnate Pelvi had been serving as an Auxiliary Bishop of Napoli {Naples}.

Mahfouz resigned, Madi named Nossa Senhora do Líbano em São Paulo (Maronite) Bishop

Bishop Joseph Mahfouz, O.L.M. resigned and Bishop-elect Edgar Madi was named Bishop of Nossa Senhora do Líbano em São Paulo (Maronite), Sao Paulo, Brazil.

Hanke named Eichstätt Bishop

Bishop-elect Gregor Maria Hanke, O.S.B. was named Bishop of Eichstätt, Germany. The diocese had been vacant since Bishop Walter Mixa was named Bishop of Augsburg in July 2005.

Gracias named Bombay Archbishop

Archbishop Oswald Gracias was named Archbishop of Bombay, India. The Archdiocese had been vacant since Archbishop Ivan Dias was named Prefect of Congregation for the Evangelization of Peoples in May 2006. Archbishop Gracias had been serving as Archbishop of Agra.

Ayah named Ogoja Bishop

Bishop-elect John Ebebe Ayah was named Bishop of Ogoja, Nigeria. The diocese had been vacant since then-Bishop Joseph Edra Ukpo was named Archbishop of Calabar in December 2003.

Cardinal Monduzzi Died

Dino Cardinal Monduzzi, Prefect Emeritus of Prefecture of the Papal Household, has died. He served as a Cardinal for 8 years, a Bishop for almost 20 years, and a priest for 61 years. May he rest in peace.

Juárez Meléndez named Tula Bishop

Bishop-elect Juan Pedro Juárez Meléndez was named Bishop of Tula, Hidalgo, México. The diocese had been vacant since Bishop Octavio Villegas Aguilar was named an Auxiliary Bishop of Morelia in December 2005.

Boles retired, Dooher and Hennessey named Boston Auxiliaries

Bishop John Patrick Boles retired as an Auxiliary Bishop, Bishop-elect John A. Dooher and Bishop-elect Robert F. Hennessey were named Auxiliary Bishops of Boston, Massachusetts, USA and titular bishops of Theveste and Tigias, respectively.

Franklin retired, Amos named Davenport Bishop

Bishop William Edwin Franklin retired and Bishop Martin John Amos was named Bishop of Davenport, Iowa, USA. Bishop Amos had been serving as an Auxiliary Bishop of Cleveland, Ohio, USA.

Girelli named Nuncio to East Timor

Archbishop Leopoldo Girelli was named Apostolic Nuncio to East Timor in addition to his other positions.

Martínez Lara named Matehuala Bishop

Bishop-elect Lucas Martínez Lara was named Bishop of Matehuala, San Luís Potosí, México. The diocese had been vacant since Bishop Rodrigo Aguilar Martínez was named Bishop of Tehuacán in January, 2006.

Rovai named Villa María Bishop

Bishop José Ángel Rovai was named Bishop of Villa María, Argentina. The diocese had been vacant since Bishop Roberto Rodríguez was named Bishop of La Rioja in May, 2006. Bishop Rovai had been serving as an Auxiliary Bishop of Córdoba.

Piña Batllevell retired, Martorell named Puerto Iguazú Bishop

Bishop Joaquín Piña Batllevell, S.J. retired and Bishop-elect Marcelo Raúl Martorell was named Bishop of Puerto Iguazú, Argentina.

Fihey retired as Coutances Bishop

Bishop Jacques Louis Marie Joseph Fihey retired as Bishop of Coutances (-Avranches), France.

Flores Huerta resigned as Ciudad Lázaro Cárdenas Bishop

Bishop Salvador Flores Huerta resigned as Bishop of Ciudad Lázaro Cárdenas, Michoacán, México.

Archbishop Naro has Died

Archbishop Cataldo Naro, Archbishop of Monreale, Italy, has died. He served as a Bishop for not quite 4 years, and as a Priest for 32 years. May he rest in peace.

Cardinal Vachon has Died

Louis-Albert Cardinal Vachon, Archbishop Emeritus of Québec, Canada, has died. He served as a Cardinal for 21 years, a Bishop for 29 years, and as a Priest for 68 years. May he rest in peace.

Pintor named Ozieri Bishop

Bishop-elect Sergio Pintor was named Bishop of Ozieri, Italy. The diocese had been vacant since Bishop Sebastiano Sanguinetti was named Bishop of Tempio-Ampurias in April, 2006.

Vacca resigned, Lanzetti named Alghero-Bosa Bishop

Bishop Antonio Vacca resigned and Bishop Giacomo Lanzetti was named Bishop of Alghero-Bosa, Italy. Bishop Lanzetti had been serving as an Auxiliary Bishop of Turin.

Green named Nuncio to Swaziland

Archbishop James Patrick Green was named Apostolic Nuncio to Swaziland in addition to his other duties.

Baltasar Marcelino retired, dos Santos named as Aveiro Bishop

Bishop António Baltasar Marcelino retired and Bishop António Francisco dos Santos was named Bishop of Aveiro, Portugal. Bishop dos Santos had been serving as an Auxiliary Bishop of Braga.

Pandarassery confirmed as Kottayam Auxiliary

Bishop-elect Jose Pandarassery was confirmed as Auxiliary Bishop of Kottayam (Syro-Malabarese), India and also named titular bishop of Castellum Ripae.

Kaleta named Titular Bishop

Bishop-elect Janusz Kaleta, Apostolic Administrator of Atyrau, Kazakhstan, was named Titular Bishop of Phelbes.

Mamberti named an Offical as the Sectariat of State

Archbishop Dominique François Joseph Mamberti was named as an Official of the Secretariat of State. He had been serving as a nuncio.

Cardinals Bertone, Sodano, Szoka and Archbishop Lajolo

As previously announced, several curial changes became effective today:

Angelo Cardinal Sodano has retired and Tarcisio Cardinal Bertone, S.D.B. was named Secretary of State. Cardinal Bertone has been serving as Archbishop of Genova, Italy.

Edmund Casimir Cardinal Szoka has retired and Archbishop Giovanni Lajolo was named President of the Governatorate of Vatican City State and President of the Pontifical Commission for Vatican City State.

van den Hende named Breda Coadjutor

Bishop-elect Johannes Harmannes Jozefus van den Hende was named Coadjutor Bishop of Breda, Netherlands.

MacDonald resigned as Saint John, New Brunswick Bishop

Bishop Joseph Faber MacDonald resigned as Bishop of Saint John, New Brunswick, Canada.

Green named Nuncio to Lesotho

Archbishop James Patrick Green was named Apostolic Nuncio to Lesotho in addition to his other duties. Today is also the day he is to be ordained a bishop.

Hanna confirmed as Alexandria (Coptic) Auxiliary

Bishop-elect Kamal Fahim Awad Hanna was confirmed as Auxiliary Bishop of Alexandria {Alessandria} (Coptic), Egypt and titular bishop of Mareotes.

Renna named San Severo Bishop

Bishop Lucio Angelo Renna, O. Carm. was named Bishop of San Severo, Italy. The diocese had been vacant since Bishop Michele Seccia was named Bishop of Teramo-Atri in June. Bishop Renna had been serving as Bishop of Avezzano.

Garaycoa Hawkins retired, Cortez Lara succeeds as Tacna y Moquegua Bishop

Bishop José Hugo Garaycoa Hawkins retired and Bishop Marco Antonio Cortez Lara succeeds him as Bishop of Tacna y Moquegua, Peru. Bishop Cortez Lara had been serving as Coadjutor Bishop of the same diocese.

Swain named Sioux Falls Bishop

Bishop-elect Paul Joseph Swain was named Bishop of Sioux Falls, South Dakota, USA. The diocese had been vacant since Bishop Robert James Carlson was named Bishop of Saginaw, Michigan in December, 2004.

Bagnasco named Genova Archbishop

Archbishop Angelo Bagnasco was named Archbishop of Genova, Italy. He will replace Tarcisio Cardinal Bertone, S.D.B. who had been named as the new Secretary of State effective on 15 September. Archbishop Bagnasco has been serving as the Military Ordinary for Italy.

Banmaw, Myanmar erected, Sumlut Gam named Bishop

The Diocese of Banmaw, Myanmar was erected with territory taken from the diocese of Myitkyina and Bishop-elect Raymond Sumlut Gam has been named as its first Bishop.

Archbishop Larrea Holguín Died

Archbishop Juan Ignacio Larrea Holguín, Archbishop Emeritus of Guayaquil, Ecuador, has died. He served as a bishop for 37 years and as a priest for 44 years. May he rest in peace.

Archbishop Mendes de Almeida Died

Archbishop Luciano Pedro Mendes de Almeida, S.J., Archbishop of Mariana, Minas Gerais, Brazil, has died. He served as a bishop for 30 years and as a priest for 48 years. May he rest in peace.

Doré resigned as Strasbourg Archbishop

Archbishop Joseph Pierre Aimé Marie Doré, P.S.S. resigned as Archbishop of Strasbourg, France.

Wamala retired, Lwanga named Kampala Archbishop

Emmanuel Cardinal Wamala retired and Archbishop-designate Cyprian Kizito Lwanga was named Archbishop of Kampala, Uganda. Archbishop-designate Lwanga had been serving as Bishop of Kasana-Luweero.

Green named Nuncio to South Africa, Nambia, and Apostolic Delegate to Botswana

Archbishop-elect James Patrick Green was named Apostolic Nuncio to South Africa, to Nambia, and Apostolic Delegate to Botswana. He was also named titular archbishop of Altinum.

Bennett resigned as Mandeville Bishop

Bishop Gordon Dunlap Bennett, S.J. resigned as Bishop of Mandeville, Jamaica, Antilles.

Gemma retired as Isernia-Venafro Bishop

Bishop Andrea Gemma, F.D.P. retired as Bishop of Isernia-Venafro, Italy.

Śrutwa resigned, Depo named Zamość-Lubaczów Bishop

Bishop Jan Śrutwa resigned and Bishop-elect Wacław Depo was named Bishop of Zamość-Lubaczów, Poland.

Cardinal Willebrands Died

Johannes Gerardus Maria Cardinal Willebrands, President Emeritus of the Pontifical Council for Promoting Christian Unity, has died. He served as a Cardinal for 37 years, a Bishop for 42 years, and as a priest for 72 years. May he rest in peace.

Archbishop Montalvo Higuera Died

Archbishop Gabriel Montalvo Higuera, Apostolic Nuncio Emeritus to United States of America, has died. He served as a bishop for 32 years and as a priest for 53 years. He retired last December after serving as Apostolic Nuncio to the USA for 7 years. May he rest in peace.

Novak retired, Alves dos Santos named Paranaguá Bishop

Bishop Alfredo Ernest Novak, C.SS.R. retired and Bishop-elect João Alves dos Santos, O.F.M. Cap. was named Bishop of Paranaguá, Parana, Brazil.

The Summer Lull and some Site News

Ya'll have probably noticed that there have been few appointments in the last few weeks. This is quite normal - and generally stays slow through mid-September. That is not to say there won't be any - just not as many as usual.

One other bit of site news. The total number of bishops listed now exceeds 20,000. There are just under 5,000 living bishops and the remaining are historical bishops.

Matos da Silva retired, Canindé Palhano named Bonfim Bishop

Bishop Jairo Rui Matos da Silva retired and Bishop-elect Francisco Canindé Palhano was named Bishop of Bonfim, Baia, Brazil.

de Freitas resigned as Nazaré Bishop

Bishop Jorge Tobias de Freitas resigned as Bishop of Nazaré, Pernambuco, Brazil.

Altieri named Caraguatatuba Bishop

Bishop-elect Antônio Carlos Altieri, S.D.B. was named Bishop of Caraguatatuba, Sao Paulo, Brazil. The diocese had been vacant since Bishop Fernando Mason, O.F.M. Conv. was named Bishop of Piracicaba in May.

Bishop Coto Monge Died

Bishop Alfonso Coto Monge, Vicar Apostolic Emeritus of Limón, Costa Rica, has died. He served as a bishop for 26 years and as a priest for 64 years. May he rest in peace.

Odoki named Gulu Auxiliary

Bishop-elect Sabino Odoki was named Auxiliary Bishop of Gulu, Uganda and titular bishop of Sabrata.

Djabla named Gagnoa Archbishop

Archbishop-designate Barthélémy Djabla was named Archbishop of Gagnoa, Côte d'Ivoire. The archdiocese had been vacant since Archbishop Jean-Pierre Kutwa was named Archbishop of Abidjan in May. Archbishop-designate Djabla had been serving as Bishop of San Pedro-en-Côte d'Ivoire.

Aké named Yamoussoukro Bishop

Bishop Joseph Yapo Aké was named Bishop of Yamoussoukro, Côte d'Ivoire. The diocese had been vacant since January when then-Bishop Paul-Siméon Ahouanan Djro, O.F.M. was named Coadjutor Archbishop of Bouaké.Bishop Aké had been serving as an Auxiliary Bishop of Abidjan.

Bishop Quélen Died

Bishop André Bernard Michel Quélen, Bishop Emeritus of Moulins, France, has died. He served as a bishop for 37 years and a priest for 60 years. May he rest in peace.

Noguer Carmona retired, Vilaplana Blasco named Huelva Bishop

Bishop Ignacio Noguer Carmona retired and Bishop José Vilaplana Blasco was named Bishop of Huelva, Spain. Bishop Vilaplana Blasco had been serving as Bishop of Santander.

Meier retired, Young named Mount Hagen Archbishop

Archbishop Michael Meier, S.V.D. retired and Archbishop-designate Douglas William Young, S.V.D. was named Archbishop of Mount Hagen, Papua New Guinea. Archbishop-designate Young had been serving as an Auxiliary Bishop of the same archdiocese.

Bishop Fitzpatrick Died

Bishop John Joseph Fitzpatrick, Bishop Emeritus of Brownsville, Texas, USA, has died. He served as a bishop for 38 years and as a priest for 63 years. May he rest in peace.

Kokkat retired, Thuruthimattam named Gorakhpur (Syro-Malabarese) Bishop

Bishop Dominic Kokkat, C.S.T. retired and Bishop-elect Thomas Thuruthimattam, C.S.T. was named Bishop of Gorakhpur (Syro-Malabarese), India

Gomes retired, Kubi named Mymensingh Bishop

Bishop Francis Anthony Gomes retired and Bishop Paul Ponen Kubi, C.S.C. was named Bishop of Mymensingh, Bangladesh. Bishop Kubi had been serving as an Auxiliary Bishop of the same diocese.

Azuaje Ayala named El Vigia-San Carlos del Zulia Bishop

Bishop-elect José Luis Azuaje Ayala was named Bishop of El Vigia-San Carlos del Zulia, Venezuela. The diocese had been vacant since Bishop William Enrique Delgado Silva was named Bishop of Cabimas in July 2005.

Archbishop Alcaraz y Figueroa Died

Archbishop Estanislao Alcaraz y Figueroa, Archbishop Emeritus of Morelia, Michoacán, México, has died. He served as a bishop for 47 years and as a priest for 63 years. May he rest in peace.

Bishop Rocha Died

Bishop Jésus Rocha, Bishop of Oliveira, Minas Gerais, Brazil, has died. He served as a bishop for 12 years and as a priest for 40 years. May he rest in peace.

Cardinal Suquía Goicoechea Died

Angel Cardinal Suquía Goicoechea, Archbishop Emeritus of Madrid, Spain, has died. He served as a Cardinal for 21 years, a bishop for 40 years (his anniversary of ordination was in 3 days), and 66 years as a priest. May he rest in peace.

Iório Rodrigues retired, Fontes de Matos named Palmeira dos Índios Bishop

Bishop Fernando Iório Rodrigues retired and Bishop Dulcênio Fontes de Matos was named Bishop of Palmeira dos Índios, Alagoas, Brazil. Bishop Fontes de Matos had been serving as an Auxiliary Bishop of Aracajú.

Mittathany retired, Lumon Succeeded as Imphal Archbishop

Archbishop Joseph Mittathany retired and Archbishop Dominic Lumon succeeded him as Archbishop of Imphal, India.

Milone resigns as Great Falls-Billings Bishop

Bishop Anthony Michael Milone has resigned as Bishop of Great Falls-Billings, Montana, USA.

Restrepo Restrepo named Girardota Bishop

Bishop Gonzalo Restrepo Restrepo was named Bishop of Girardota, Colombia. The diocese had been vacant since the resignation of Bishop Óscar González Villa last month. Bishop Restrepo Restrepo had been serving as an Auxiliary Bishop of Cali.

Periyanayagam named Vellore Bishop

Bishop-elect Soundaraj Periyanayagam, S.D.B. was named Bishop of Vellore, India. The diocese has been vacant since then-Bishop Malayappan Chinnappa, S.D.B. was named Archbishop of Madras and Mylapore (Meliapor) in April, 2005.

Dupuy named Monaco Nuncio

Archbishop André Pierre Louis Dupuy was named Apostolic Nuncio to Monaco.

Del Río Alba named Arequipa Coadjutor

Archbishop-designate Javier Augusto Del Río Alba was named Coadjutor Archbishop of Arequipa, Peru. Archbishop José Paulino Ríos Reynoso remains the ordinary. Archbishop-designate Del Río Alba has been serving as an Auxiliary Bishop of Callao.

Marcus retired, Le Gall named Toulouse Archbishop

Archbishop Emile Marcus, P.S.S. retired and Archbishop-designate Robert Jean Louis Le Gall, O.S.B. was named Archbishop of Toulouse (-Narbonne-Saint Bertrand de Comminges-Rieux), France. Archbishop-designate Le Gall has been serving as Bishop of Mende.

Cantuarias Pastor retired, Eguren Anselmi named Piura Archbishop

Archbishop Oscar Rolando Cantuarias Pastor retired and Archbishop-designate José Antonio Eguren Anselmi, S.C.V. was named Archbishop of Piura, Peru. Archbishop-designate Eguren Anselmi has been serving as an Auxiliary Bishop of Lima.

Bishop Fernandes Veloso Died

Bishop José Fernandes Veloso, Bishop Emeritus of Petrópolis, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, has died. He served as a bishop for 40 years and as a priest for 65 years. May he rest in peace.

Nesti retired, Gardin named Institutes of Consecrated Life and Societies of Apostolic Life Secretary

Archbishop Piergiorgio Silvano Nesti, C.P. retired and Archbishop-elect Gianfranco Gardin, O.F.M. Conv. was named Secretary of Congregation for Institutes of Consecrated Life and Societies of Apostolic Life. Archbishop-elect Gardin was also named titular archbishop of Cissa.

Nkuo named Kumbo Bishop

Bishop George Nkuo was named Bishop of Kumbo, Cameroon. The diocese had been vacant since then-Bishop Cornelius Fontem Esua was named Coadjutor Archbishop of Bamenda.

Escudero López-Brea named Moyobamba Coadjutor Prelate

Bishop-elect Rafael Escudero López-Brea was named Coadjutor Prelate of Moyobamba, Peru.

Martínez Miranda named Ciudad Altamirano Bishop

Bishop-elect Maximino Martínez Miranda was named Bishop of Ciudad Altamirano, Guerrero, México. The diocese had been vacant since the death of Bishop José Miguel Ángel Giles Vázquez last September.

Frendo named Tiranë-Durrës Auxiliary

Bishop-elect George Frendo, O.P. was named Auxiliary Bishop of Tiranë-Durrës, Albania and titular bishop of Buthrotum.

O'Kelly named Adelaide Auxiliary

Bishop-elect Gregory O'Kelly, S.J. was named Auxiliary Bishop of Adelaide, Australia and titular bishop of Ath Truim.

Jayasundera resigned as Ratnapura Bishop-Elect

Bishop-elect Ivan Tilak Jayasundera resigned as Bishop-elect of Ratnapura, Sri Lanka.He had been named to that post on 20 January of this year.

Büchel named Sankt Gallen Bishop

Bishop-elect Markus Büchel was named Bishop of Sankt Gallen, Switzerland. The diocese had been vacant since Bishop Ivo Fürer retired last October.

Pedreira da Cruz named Caicó Bishop

Bishop-elect Manoel Delson Pedreira da Cruz, O.F.M. Cap. was named Bishop of Caicó, Rio Grande do Norte, Brazil. The diocese had been vacant since February when Bishop Jaime Vieira Rocha was named Bishop of Campina Grande.

Bishop Bethancourt Fioravanti Died

Bishop Julio Amílcar Bethancourt Fioravanti, Bishop of Santa Rosa de Lima, Guatemala, has died. He had served in that role for 10 years, as a bishop for 23 years and as a priest for 42 years. May he rest in peace.

Bishop Fernando Died

Bishop Thomas Fernando, Bishop Emeritus of Tiruchirapalli, India, has died. He served as a bishop for 56 years and as a priest for 67 years. May he rest in peace.

Bishop Broderick Died

Bishop Edwin Bernard Broderick, Bishop Emeritus of Albany, New York, USA, has died. He served as a bishop for 39 years and as a priest for 64 years. May he rest in peace.

Bishop Talavera Ramírez Died

Bishop Carlos Talavera Ramírez, Bishop Emeritus of Coatzacoalcos, Veracruz, México, has died. He served as a bishop for 26 years and as a priest for 57 years. May he rest in peace.