Bertagna named Legislative Texts Vice President

Archbishop-designate Bruno Bertagna was named Vice President of the Pontifical Council for Legislative Texts. He had been serving as the Secretary of the same Pontifical Council.

Herranz Casado retired, Coccopalmerio named Legislative Texts President

Julián Cardinal Herranz Casado retired and Archbishop-designate Francesco Coccopalmerio was named President of the Pontifical Council for Legislative Texts. Archbishop-designate Coccopalmerio had been serving as an Auxiliary Bishop of Milano {Milan}, Italy.

Razakarinvony retired, Randrianarisoa named Miarinarivo Bishop

Bishop Raymond Razakarinvony retired and Bishop-elect Jean Claude Randrianarisoa was named Bishop of Miarinarivo, Madagascar.

Moolachira named Diphu Bishop

Bishop-elect John Moolachira was named Bishop of Diphu, India. The diocese had been vacant since Bishop John Thomas Kattrukudiyil was named Bishop of Itanagar in December 2005.

Fernández Torres named San Juan de Puerto Rico Auxiliary

Bishop-elect Daniel Fernández Torres was named an Auxiliary Bishop of San Juan de Puerto Rico and titular bishop of Sufes.

Nepal elevated to Vicariate, Sharma remains Ordinary

The Prefecture Apostolic of Nepal was elevated to the Vicariate Apostolic of Nepal. Bishop-elect Anthony Francis Sharma, S.J. remains its ordinary now with the title of Vicar Apostolic and he was also named titular bishop of Gigthi.

Thottunkal confirmed as Trivandrum (Malankarese) Major Archbishop

Major Archbishop-designate Isaac Mar Cleemis Thottunkal was confirmed as Major Archbishop of Trivandrum (Malankarese), India. The Archdiocese had been vacant since the death of Major Archbishop Cyril Baselios Malancharuvil, O.I.C. in January 2007. Major Archbishop-designate Thottunkal had been serving as Archbishop of Tiruvalla (Malankarese).

Schlembach retired as Speyer Bishop

Bishop Anton Schlembach retired as Bishop of Speyer, Germany.

Meurice Estiu retired, García Ibáñez named Santiago de Cuba Archbishop

Archbishop Pedro Claro Meurice Estiu retired and Archbishop-designate Dionisio Guillermo García Ibáñez was named Archbishop of Santiago de Cuba. Archbishop-designate García Ibáñez had been serving as Bishop of Santisimo Salvador de Bayamo y Manzanillo.

Tineo Rivera named Caracas Auxiliary

Bishop-elect Luis Tineo Rivera was named an Auxiliary Bishop of Caracas, Santiago de Venezuela and titular bishop of Horrea Coelia.

Aerath named Titular Bishop of Bapara

Bishop-elect Chacko Aerath, OIC was named titular bishop of Bapara.

de Castro retired, Moura named Montes Claros Archbishop

Archbishop Geraldo Majela de Castro, O. Praem. retired and Archbishop-designate José Alberto Moura, C.S.S. was named Archbishop of Montes Claros, Minas Gerais, Brazil. Archbishop-designate Moura had been serving as Bishop of Uberlândia.

Pappenberger named Regensburg Auxiliary

Bishop-elect Reinhard Pappenberger was named Auxiliary Bishop of Regensburg, Germany and titular bishop of Aptuca.

Henrici retired as Chur Auxiliary

Bishop Peter Henrici, S.J. retired as Auxiliary Bishop of Chur, Switzerland.

Grab retired as Chur Bishop

Bishop Amédée (Antoine-Marie) Grab, O.S.B. retired as Bishop of Chur, Switzerland.

Bishop Loft Died

Bishop Gerard Francis Loft, S. M., Bishop Emeritus of Auki, Solomon Islands, has died. He was 73 years old and had served as a priest for 48 years and as a bishop for 23 years. May he rest in peace.

Archbishop Mallon Died

Archbishop Peter Joseph Mallon, Archbishop Emeritus of Regina, Saskatchewan, Canada, has died. He was 77 years old and had served as a priest for 50 years. He returned to Our Lord on the day after his 17th anniversary of consecration as a bishop. May he rest in peace.

Bishop Lari Died

Bishop Ovidio Lari, Bishop Emeritus of Aosta, Italy, has died. He was 88 years old and had served as a priest for 65 years and as a bishop for 38 years. May he rest in peace.

Escudero Montoya named Palmira Bishop

Bishop Abraham Escudero Montoya was named Bishop of Palmira, Colombia. The diocese had been vacant since then-Bishop Orlando Antonio Corrales García was named Archbishop of Santa Fe de Antioquia in January 2007. Bishop Escudero Montoya had been serving as Bishop of Espinal.

Kamphaus retired as Limburg Bishop

Bishop Franz Kamphaus retired as Bishop of Limburg, Germany.

Wetter retired as München und Freising Archbishop

Friedrich Cardinal Wetter retired as Archbishop of München und Freising {Munich}, Germany.

Cardinal Javierre Ortas Died

Antonio María Cardinal Javierre Ortas, S.D.B., Prefect Emeritus of Congregation for Divine Worship and the Discipline of the Sacraments and Cardinal-Priest of S. Maria Liberatrice a Monte Testaccio, has died. He would have turned 86 on the 21st of this month. He served as a priest for 57 years, as a bishop for 30 years, and as a cardinal for 18 years. May he rest in peace.

da Rocha named Teresina Coadjutor

Archbishop-designate Sérgio da Rocha was named Coadjutor Archbishop of Teresina, Pianui, Brazil. He had been serving as an Auxiliary Bishop of Fortaleza.

Boccardi named Nuncio to Eritrea

Archbishop-elect Leo Boccardi was named Apostolic Nuncio to Eritrea in addition to his other duties.

Balvo named Nuncio to Nauru

Archbishop Charles Daniel Balvo was named Apostolic Nuncio to Nauru, Pacific (Oceania) in addition to his other duties.

Murry named Youngstown Bishop

Bishop George Vance Murry, S.J. was named Bishop of Youngstown, Ohio, USA. The diocese had been vacant since Bishop Thomas Joseph Tobin was named Bishop of Providence, Rhode Island in March 2005. Bishop Murry had been serving as Bishop of Saint Thomas, American Virgin Islands.

Haddad named Saïda (Melkite) Archbishop

Archbishop-elect Elie Haddad, B.S. was named Archbishop of Saïda (Melkite), Lebanon.

Ensenada, Mexico erected, Noriega Barceló named Bishop

The Diocese of Ensenada, Mexico was erected with territory taken from the Tijuana and Mexicali. Bishop-elect Sigifredo Noriega Barceló was named its first bishop.

Dabbaghian confirmed as Baghdad (Armenian) Archbishop

Archbishop-elect Emmanuel Dabbaghian was confirmed as Archbishop of Baghdad (Armenian), Iraq. The Archdiocese had been vacant since Archbishop Paul Coussa retired in October 2001.

García Fernández retired as Cafayate Prelate

Bishop Cipriano García Fernández, O.S.A. retired as Prelate of Cafayate, Argentina.

Mottola named Montenegro Nuncio

Archbishop Angelo Mottola was named Apostolic Nuncio to Montenegro. Archbishop Mottola had been serving as Apostolic Nuncio to Iran.

Motiuk named Edmonton (Ukrainian) Bishop

Bishop David Motiuk was named Bishop of Edmonton (Ukrainian), Canada. The diocese had been vacant since then-Bishop Lawrence Daniel Huculak, O.S.B.M. was named Archbishop of Winnipeg (Ukrainian) in January 2006. Bishop Motiuk had been serving as an Auxiliary Bishop of Winnipeg (Ukrainian).

Thoomkuzhy retired, Thazhath named Trichur Archbishop

Archbishop Jacob Thoomkuzhy retired and Archbishop-designate Andrews Thazhath was named Archbishop of Trichur (Syro-Malabarese), India. Archbishop-designate Thazhath had been serving as an Auxiliary Bishop of the same archdiocese.

Powathil retired, Perumthotttam named Changanacherry Archbishop

Archbishop Joseph Powathil retired and Archbishop-designate Joseph Perumthotttam was named Archbishop of Changanacherry (Syro-Malabarese), India. Archbishop-designate Perumthottam had been serving as an Auxiliary Bishop of the same archeparchy.

Bishop Gorantla Died

Bishop Johannes Gorantla, Bishop of Kurnool, India, has died. He was 54 years old and had served as a priest for 29 years. His 13th anniversary of consecration as a bishop was less than a week away. May he rest in peace.

Ezeokafor named Awka Auxiliary

Bishop-elect Paulinus Chukwuemeka Ezeokafor was named Auxiliary Bishop of Awka, Nigeria and titular bishop of Tetci.

Kujur named Purnea Bishop

Bishop-elect Angelus Kujur, S.J. was named Bishop of Purnea, India. The diocese had been vacant since Bishop Vincent Barwa was named an Auxiliary Bishop of Ranchi in September 2004.

Nevins retired, Dewane succeeded as Venice Bishop

Bishop John Joseph Nevins retired and Bishop Frank Joseph Dewane succeeded as Bishop of Venice, Florida, USA.

Bishop Paul Died

Bishop Bonaventure Patrick Paul, O.F.M., Bishop Emeritus of Hyderabad in Pakistan, has died. He was 77 years old and served as a priest for 53 years and as a bishop for 35 years. May he rest in peace.

Major Archbishop Malancharuvil Died

Major Archbishop Cyril Baselios Malancharuvil, O.I.C., Major Archbishop of Trivandrum (Malankarese), India, has died. He was 71 years old and had served as a priest for 46 years and as a bishop for 28 years. May he rest in peace.

Boccardi named Nuncio to Sudan

Archbishop-elect Leo Boccardi was named Apostolic Nuncio to Sudan and titular archbishop of Bitettum.

Jacolin named Mende Bishop

Bishop-elect François Jacolin, M.D.P. was named Bishop of Mende, France. The diocese had been vacant since then-Bishop Robert Jean Louis Le Gall, O.S.B. was named Archbishop of Toulouse (-Narbonne-Saint Bertrand de Comminges-Rieux) in July 2006.

Bishop Tharmaraj Died

Bishop Leon Augustine Tharmaraj, Bishop of Kottar, India, has died. He was 65 years old and had served as a priest for 41 years. He had just celebrated the 18th anniversary of his consecration as a bishop on 6 January. May he rest in peace.

Blog Adjustments

I just wanted to let ya'll know that there has been a software update with the blog, so you'll see several adjustments to the format. In addition, I will now be able to label posts. My intention, for now, is to give the country(s) involved as the label plus a few other keywords when appropriate. I've added labels for the 2007 postings. If ya'll find this a useful features then I'll try to add labels to posts prior to that as time permits.

Duarte Figueroa named Culiacán Auxiliary

Bishop-elect Emigdio Duarte Figueroa was named Auxiliary Bishop of Culiacán, Sinaloa, México and titular bishop of Bilta.

Rozario named Rajshahi Bishop

Bishop-elect Gervas Rozario was named Bishop of Rajshahi, Bangladesh. The diocese had been vacant since then-Bishop Paulinus Costa was named Archbishop of Dhaka in July 2005.

van Lieshout retired, Blouin named Lae Bishop

Bishop Henry Anthony A. van Lieshout, C.M.M. retired and Bishop-elect Christian Blouin, C.M.M. was named Bishop of Lae, Papua New Guinea.

Archbishop Meagher Died

Archbishop Anthony G. Meagher, Archbishop of Kingston, Ontario, Canada, has died. He was 66 years old and had served as a priest for 34 years and as a bishop for 9 years. May he rest in peace.

Bishop Kaising Died

Bishop John Joseph Kaising, Auxiliary Bishop of United States of America, Military, has died. He was 70 years old and had served as a priest for 44 years and a bishop for 6 years. May he rest in peace.

Bishop Matos da Silva Died

Bishop Jairo Rui Matos da Silva, Bishop Emeritus of Bonfim, Baia, Brazil, has died. He was 77 years old and had served as a priest for 52 years and as a bishop for 32 years. May he rest in peace.

Archbishop de Milleville Died

Archbishop Gérard-Paul-Louis-Marie de Milleville, C.S.Sp., Archbishop Emeritus of Conakry {Konakry}, Guinea, has died. He was 94 years old and had served as a priest for 67 years and as a bishop for 51 years. May he rest in peace.

Gómez Aristizábal retired, Corrales García named Santa Fe de Antioquia Archbishop

Archbishop Ignacio José Gómez Aristizábal retired and Archbishop-designate Orlando Antonio Corrales García was named Archbishop of Santa Fe de Antioquía, Colombia. Archbishop-designate Corrales García had been serving as Bishop of Palmira.

Bertello named Nuncio to Italy and to San Marino

Archbishop Giuseppe Bertello was named Apostolic Nuncio to Italy and to San Marino. Those posts were previously held by Archbishop Paolo Romeo who was named Archbishop of Palermo in December 2006. Archbishop Bertello had been serving as Apostolic Nuncio to Mexico.

Valiakandathil named Bhagalpur Bishop

Bishop-elect Kurian (Ciriaco) Valiakandathil was named Bishop of Bhagalpur, India. The diocese had been vacant since the death of Bishop Thomas Kozhimala in June 2005.

Bishop Spital Died

Bishop Hermann Josef Spital, Bishop Emeritus of Trier, Germany, has died. He was 81 years old and had served as a priest for 54 years and as a bishop for 26 years. May he rest in peace.

Bishop Rivera Meza Died

Bishop Nemesio Rivera Meza, Bishop Emeritus of Cajamarca, Peru, has died. He was 88 years old and had served as a priest for 60 years and as a bishop for 48 years. May he rest in peace.

Wester named Salt Lake City Bishop

Bishop John Charles Wester was named Bishop of Salt Lake City, Utah, USA. The diocese had been vacant since then-Bishop George Hugh Niederauer was named Archbishop of San Francisco in December 2005. Bishop Wester had been serving as an Auxiliary Bishop of San Francisco.

Wielgus resigned as Warszawa {Warsaw} Archbishop

Archbishop Stanislaw Wojciech Wielgus resigned as Archbishop of Warszawa {Warsaw}, Poland.

Cardinal Etsou Died

Frédéric Cardinal Etsou-Nzabi-Bamungwabi, C.I.C.M., Archbishop of Kinshasa, Congo (Dem. Rep.), has died. He had turned 76 last month and had served as a priest for 48 years, a bishop for 30 years, and as a Cardinal for 15 years. May he rest in peace.

Marinozzi retired, Saldarriaga named Soddo-Hosanna Vicar Apostolic

Bishop Domenico Crescentino Marinozzi, O.F.M. Cap. retired and Bishop-elect Rodrigo Mejía Saldarriaga, S.J. was named Vicar Apostolic of Soddo-Hosanna, Ethiopia and titular bishop of Vulturia.

Jaucian named Bangued Bishop

Bishop-elect Leopoldo C. Jaucian, S.V.D. was named Bishop of Bangued, Philippines. The diocese had been vacant since Bishop Artemio Lomboy Rillera, S.V.D. was named Bishop of San Fernando de La Union in April 2005.

Félémou named Kankan Bishop

Bishop-elect Emmanuel Félémou was named Bishop of Kankan, Guinea. The diocese had been vacant since then-Bishop Vincent Coulibaly was named Archbishop of Conakry {Konakry}.

Abarquez named Calbayog Bishop

Bishop Isabelo Caiban Abarquez was named Bishop of Calbayog, Philippines. The diocese had been vacant since then-Bishop Jose Serofia Palma was named Archbishop of Palo in March 2006. Bishop Abarquez had been serving as an Auxiliary Bishop of Palo.

da Silva Chaves retired, dos Reis Silveira named Uruaçu Bishop

Bishop José da Silva Chaves retired and Bishop-elect Messias dos Reis Silveira was named Bishop of Uruaçu (Uruassu), Brazil.

Ebejer retired, Barbosa de Sousa named União da Vitória Bishop

Bishop Walter Michael Ebejer, O.P. retired and Bishop-elect João Bosco Barbosa de Sousa, O.F.M. was named Bishop of União da Vitória, Brazil.

Tomasin retired, Pignoli named Quixadá Bishop

Bishop Adélio Giuseppe (José) Tomasin, P.S.D.P. retired and Bishop-elect Angelo Pignoli was named Bishop of Quixadá, Brazil.

Ehuzu named Porto Novo Bishop

Bishop René-Marie Ehuzu, C.I.M. was named Bishop of Porto Novo, Benin. The diocese had been vacant since then-Bishop Marcel Honorat Léon Agboton was named Archbishop of Cotonou in March, 2005. Bishop Ehuzu had been serving as Bishop of Abomey.

Erected: Mavelikara, India; Kizhakkeveettil named Bishop

The Eparchy of Mavelikara (Malankarese), India was erected with territory taken from Archdiocese of Trivandrum (Malankarese). Bishop Joshuah Ignathios Kizhakkeveettil was named its first Bishop. He had been serving as an Auxiliary Bishop of Trivandrum (Malankarese).

Herbas Balderrama named Aiquile Coadjutor

Bishop-elect Jorge Herbas Balderrama, O.F.M. was named Coadjutor Prelate of Aiquile, Bolivia.

Moreno Casamitjana retired, Ezzati Andrello named Concepción Archbishop

Archbishop Antonio Moreno Casamitjana retired and Archbishop-designate Ricardo Ezzati Andrello, S.D.B. was named Archbishop of Concepción (Santissima Concezione), Chile. Archbishop-designate Ezzati Andrello had been serving as an Auxiliary Bishop of Santiago de Chile.

Grillo retired, Chenis named Civitaveccia-Tarquinia Bishop

Bishop Girolamo Grillo retired and Bishop-elect Carlo Chenis, S.D.B. was named Bishop of Civitaveccia-Tarquinia, Italy.

Friend retires as Shreveport Bishop

Bishop William Benedict Friend retired as Bishop of Shreveport, Louisiana, USA.

Ryan retired, Garcia named Monterey Bishop

Bishop Sylvester Donovan Ryan retired and Bishop Richard Joseph Garcia was named Bishop of Monterey in California, USA. Bishop Garcia had been serving as an Auxiliary Bishop of Sacramento.

De Giorgi retired, Romeo named Palermo Archbishop

Salvatore Cardinal De Giorgi retired and Archbishop Paolo Romeo was named Archbishop of Palermo, Italy. Archbishop Romeo had been serving as Apostolic Nuncio to Italy and to San Marino.

Archbishop Di Filippo Died

Archbishop Ettore Di Filippo, Archbishop Emeritus of Campobasso-Boiano, Italy, has died. He was 84 years old and had served as a priest for 61 years and as a bishop for 23 years. May he rest in peace.

Ambrozic retired, Collins named Toronto Archbishop

Aloysius Matthew Cardinal Ambrozic retired and Archbishop Thomas Christopher Collins was named Archbishop of Toronto, Ontario, Canada. Archbishop Collins had been serving as Archbishop of Edmonton.

Martínez Sacristán named Zamora Bishop

Bishop-elect Gregorio Martínez Sacristán was named Bishop of Zamora, Spain. The diocese had been vacant since Bishop Casimiro López Llorente was named Bishop of Segorbe-Castellón de la Plana in April 2006.

Suárez Cázares resigned as Zamora Bishop

Bishop Carlos Suárez Cázares resigned as Bishop of Zamora, Michoacán, México.

Krevey retired, Koubetch succeeded as São João Batista em Curitiba (Ukrainian) Bishop

Bishop Efraím Basílio Krevey (Krevei), O.S.B.M. retired and Bishop Valdomiro Koubetch, O.S.B.M. succeeded as Bishop of São João Batista em Curitiba (Ukrainian), Brazil.

González Bacallao retired, Serpa Pérez named Pinar del Rio Bishop

Bishop José Siro González Bacallao retired and Bishop-elect Jorge Enrique Serpa Pérez was named Bishop of Pinar del Rio, Cuba.

Baladrón Valdés resigned, Pino Estévez named Guantánamo-Baracoa Bishop

Bishop Carlos Jesús Patricio Baladrón Valdés resigned and Bishop-elect Wilfredo Pino Estévez was named Bishop of Guantánamo-Baracoa, Cuba.

Carmon retired, Fabre named New Orleans Auxiliary

Bishop Dominic Carmon, S.V.D. retired and Bishop-elect Shelton Joseph Fabre was named Auxiliary Bishop of New Orleans, Louisiana, USA and titular bishop of Pudenziana.

Augustini named Sapë Bishop

Bishop-elect Lucjuan Augustini was named Bishop of Sapë, Albania.

Gjergji named Prizren Apostolic Adminstrator

Bishop Dodë Gjergji was named Apostolic Administrator of Prizren, Serbia and Montenegro. He had been serving as Bishop of Sapë.

Mbilingi named Lubango Coadjutor

Archbishop-designate Gabriel Mbilingi, C.S.Sp. was named Coadjutor Archbishop of Lubango, Angola. He had been serving as Bishop of Lwena.

O’Connell retired as Melbourne Auxiliary

Bishop Joseph Peter O'Connell retired as Auxiliary Bishop of Melbourne, Australia.

Cardinal Pappalardo Died

Salvatore Cardinal Pappalardo, Archbishop Emeritus of Palermo, Italy and Cardinal-Priest of S. Maria Odigitria dei Siciliani, has died. He was 88 years old, having served as a priest for 65 years, a bishop for 41 years, and a cardinal for 33 years. May he rest in peace.

Madila Basanguka named Kananga Archbishop

Archbishop-designate Marcel Madila Basanguka was named Archbishop of Kananga, Congo (Dem. Rep.). The archdiocese had been vacant since Archbishop Godefroid Mukeng'a Kalond, C.I.C.M. retired in May 2006. Archbishop-designate Madila Basanguka had been serving as an Auxiliary Bishop of the same Archdiocese.

Balaswamy retired, Prakasam named Nellore Bishop

Bishop Pudhota Chinniah Balaswamy retired and Bishop Doraboina Moses Prakasam was named Bishop of Nellore, India. Bishop Prakasam had been serving as Bishop of Cuddapah.

Erected: São José dos Pinhais, Brazil; Biernaski named Bishop

The Diocese of São José dos Pinhais, Brazil was erected with territory taken from the Archdiocese of Curitiba. The new diocese becomes a suffragan of Curitiba. Bishop Ladislau Biernaski, C.M. was named its first bishop. He had been serving as an Auxiliary Bishop of Curitiba.

Glemp retired, Wielgus named Warsaw Archbishop

Józef Cardinal Glemp retired and Archbishop-designate Stanislaw Wojciech Wielgus was named Archbishop of Warszawa {Warsaw}, Poland. Archbishop-designate Wielgus had been serving as Bishop of Płock.

Serrano named Hwange Bishop

Bishop-elect Alberto Serrano, I.E.M.E. was named Bishop of Hwange, Zimbabwe. The diocese had been vacant since then-Bishop Robert Christopher Ndlovu was named Archbishop of Harare in June 2004.

Santiago named Santo Tomé Bishop

Bishop-elect Hugo Santiago was named Bishop of Santo Tomé, Argentina. The diocese had been vacant since Bishop Francisco Polti Santillán was named Bishop of Santiago del Estero in May 2006.

Fenoy named San Miguel Bishop

Bishop Sergio Alfredo Fenoy was named Bishop of San Miguel, Argentina. The diocese had been vacant since then-Bishop José Luis Mollaghan was named Archbishop of Rosario in December 2005. Bishop Fenoy had been serving as Auxiliary Bishop of Rosario.

Sequeira retired, Thomasappa named Chikmagalur Bishop

Bishop John Baptist Sequeira retired and Bishop-elect Anthony Swamy Thomasappa was named Bishop of Chikmagalur, India.

Di Cristina named Monreale Archbishop

Archbishop-designate Salvatore Di Cristina was named Archbishop of Monreale, Italy. The Archdiocese had been vacant since the death of Archbishop Cataldo Naro in Septmeber. Archbishop-designate Di Cristina had been serving as an Auxiliary Bishop of Palermo.

Mercieca retired, Cremona named Malta Archbishop

Archbishop Joseph Mercieca retired and Archbishop-elect Paul Cremona, O.P. was named Archbishop of Malta.

Maggiolini retired, Coletti named Como Bishop

Bishop Alessandro Maggiolini retired and Bishop Diego Coletti was named Bishop of Como, Italy. Bishop Coletti had been serving as Bishop of Livorno.

Sumbelelo named Uije Coadjutor

Bishop-elect Emílio Sumbelelo was named Coadjutor Bishop of Uije, Angola. Bishop José Francisco Moreira dos Santos, O.F.M. Cap. remains the ordinary.

Rodas de Sousa Ribas retired, Mendes dos Santos named São Tomé e Príncipe Bishop

Bishop Abílio Rodas de Sousa Ribas, C.S.Sp. retired and Bishop-elect Manuel António Mendes dos Santos, C.M.F. was named Bishop of São Tomé e Príncipe.