Gjergji named Sapë Bishop

Bishop-elect Dodë Gjergji was named Bishop of Sapë, Albania. He has been serving as Apostolic Administrator of the same diocese.

Bishop Paschoal Died

Bishop Hélio Paschoal, C.S.S., Bishop Emeritus of Livramento de Nossa Senhora, Brazil, has died. He had served as a bishop for 38 years and a priest for 54 years. May he rest in peace.

Ba Ria Erected; Nguyên Van Trâm named Bishop

The Diocese of Ba Ria, Viêt Nam was erected with territory taken from the Diocese of Xuân Lôc. Bishop Thomas Nguyên Van Trâm was named its first Bishop. He had been serving as Auxiliary Bishop of Xuân Lôc.

Statistics from Annuario Pontificio 2005

After many delays, I've finally completed the data entry of statistical information from the Annuario Pontificio 2005. The data will appear on the individual diocese pages as those are updated (I hope to refresh them all in the next week or so). The summary statistics are now updated.

The usual warning on summary statistics always applies. All summary statistics (anything above the level of a single diocese) have many known problems. If more accurate statistics are required, I highly recommend the Statistical Yearbook published annually by the Vatican.

D’Errico named Bosnia-Herzegovina Nuncio

Archbishop Alessandro D’Errico was named Apostolic Nuncio to Bosnia-Herzegovina. He had been serving as Apostolic Nuncio to Pakistan.

Le Vert named Meaux Auxiliary

Bishop-elect Jean-Marie Le Vert was named Auxiliary Bishop of Meaux, France and titular bishop of Simidicca. He had been serving as a priest of the Archdiocese of Tours.

Bishop Cuara Méndez Died

Bishop Luis Gabriel Cuara Méndez, Bishop of Veracruz, Mexico, has died. He had as a bishop for 16 years and as a priest for 43 years. May he rest in peace.

Bishop Bududira Died

Bishop Bernard Bududira, Bishop of Bururi, Burundi, has died. He had served in that role for 32 years and as a priest for 42 years. May he rest in peace.

Zavala Castro named Chilpancingo-Chilapa Bishop

Bishop Alejo Zavala Castro was named Bishop of Chilpancingo-Chilapa, Guerrero, México. The diocese had been vacant since the death of Bishop Efrén Ramos Salazar in February. Bishop Zavala Castro had been serving as Bishop of Tlapa.

Goretti retired, Sorrentino named Assisi-Nocera Umbra-Gualdo Tadino Bishop

Bishop Sergio Goretti retired and Archbishop Domenico Sorrentino was named Bishop of Assisi-Nocera Umbra-Gualdo Tadino, Italy. Bishop Goretti had been serving as bishop for 25 years and as a priest for 52 years. Archbishop Sorrentino had been serving as the Secretary of the Congregation for Divine Worship and the Discipline of the Sacraments. He retains the title Archbishop as a personal title.

Bishop Chimole Died

Bishop Matthias A. Chimole, Bishop Emeritus of Lilongwe, Malawi, has died. He had served as a bishop for 35 years and as a priest for 58 years. May he rest in peace.

Archbishop Verolino Died

Archbishop Gennaro Verolino, titular archbishop of Corinthus, has died. He had served as an Apostolic Nuncio and in a variety of roles within the Roman Curia. He served as a bishop for 54 years and as a priest for 77 years. May he rest in peace.

Sigampa named Resistencia Archbishop

Archbishop-designate Fabriciano Sigampa was named Archbishop of Resistencia, Argentina. The Archdiocese had been vacant since Archbishop Carmelo Juan Giaquinta resigned in April. Archbishop-designate Sigampa had been serving as bishop of La Rioja.

Bishop Garmendia Ayestarán Died

Bishop Francisco Garmendia Ayestarán, Auxiliary Bishop Emeritus of New York, New York, USA, has died. He had served as a bishop for 28 years and a priest for 58 years. He had just turned 81 less than two weeks ago. May he rest in peace.

Antonini named Paraguay Nuncio

Archbishop Orlando Antonini was been named Apostolic Nuncio to Paraguay. The post had been vacant since Archbishop Antonio Lucibello was named Apostolic Nuncio to Turkey in August. Archbishop Antonini had been serving as Apostolic Nuncio to Malawi and Zambia.

Beloto named Formosa Bishop

Bishop-elect Paulo Roberto Beloto was named Bishop of Formosa, Goias, Brazil. The diocese had been vacant since Bishop João Casimiro Wilk, O.F.M. Conv. was named Bishop of Anápolis in June 2004. Bishop-elect Beloto had been serving as a priest of Marília.

Jamnik named Ljubljana Auxiliary

Bishop-elect Anton Jamnik was named Auxiliary Bishop of Ljubljana, Slovenia and titular bishop of Vina. He had been serving as a priest of the same archdiocese.

González González named Guadalajara Auxiliary

Bishop-elect José Leopoldo González González was named Auxiliary Bishop of Guadalajara, Mexico and titular bishop of Thuburnica. He had been serving as a priest of the same archdiocese.

Archbishop Ávila Died

Archbishop Geraldo do Espírito Santo Ávila, Archbishop of Brazil, Military, has died. He had served as a bishop for 28 years and as a priest for just under 52 years. May he rest in peace.

Capuzzi retired, Merisi named Lodi Bishop

Bishop Giacomo Capuzzi retired and Bishop Giuseppe Merisi was named Bishop of Lodi, Italy. Bishop Capuzzi had been serving in that role for 16 years. Bishop Merisi had been serving as auxiliary bishop of Milano {Milan}.