Banach named Solomon Islands Nuncio

Archbishop Michael Wallace Banach was named Apostolic Nuncio to Solomon Islands in addition to his other posts

Benavent Vidal named Tortosa Bishop

Bishop Enrique Benavent Vidal was named Bishop of Tortosa, Spain.

The diocese had been vacant since Bishop Javier Salinas Viñals was named Bishop of Mallorca in November 2012.

Bishop Benavent Vidal had been serving as Auxiliary Bishop of Valencia.

Mtega resigned as Songea Archbishop

Archbishop Norbert Wendelin Mtega resigned as Archbishop of Songea, Tanzania.

Bishop Tarcisius Ngalalekumtwa, Bishop of Iringa, was named Apostolic Administrator.

Fernandes and Rodrigues named Bombay Auxiliaries

Bishop-elect Savio Dominic Fernandes and Bishop-elect John Rodrigues were named Auxiliary Bishops of Bombay, India and titular bishops of Cozyla and Deultum, respectively.

Castro Castro named Cuernavaca Bishop

Bishop Ramón Castro Castro was named Bishop of Cuernavaca, Morelos, México.

The diocese had been vacant since then-Bishop Alfonso Cortés Contreras was named Archbishop of León, Guanajuato in December 2012.

Bishop Castro Castro had been serving as Bishop of Campeche.

Vial Risopatrón retired, Vargas Bastidas named Temuco Bishop

Bishop Manuel Camilo Vial Risopatrón, P. Schönstatt retired and Bishop Héctor Eduardo Vargas Bastidas, S.D.B. was named Bishop of Temuco, Chile.

Bishop Vargas Bastidas had been serving as Bishop of Arica.

Fernández named Titular Archbishop

Archbishop-elect Victor Manuel Fernández was named Titular Archbishop of Tiburnia.

Kruszyłowicz retired as Szczecin-Kamień Auxiliary

Bishop Marian Błażej Kruszyłowicz, O.F.M. Conv. retired as Auxiliary Bishop of Szczecin-Kamień, Poland.

Gonçalves de Almeida named Brasília Bishop

Bishop-elect José Aparecido Gonçalves de Almeida was named Auxiliary Bishop of Brasília, Distrito Federal, Brazil and titular bishop of Enera.

Elbs named Feldkirch Bishop

Bishop-elect Benno Elbs was named Bishop of Feldkirch, Austria.

The diocese had been vacant since the retirement of Bishop Elmar Fischer in November 2011.

Giuntini retired, Cipolini named Marília Bishop

Bishop Osvaldo Giuntini retired and Bishop-elect Luiz Antônio Cipolini was named Bishop of Marília, Sao Paulo, Brazil.

Krebs named New Zealand, Cook Islands, Kiribata, Palau, and Micronesia Nuncio

Archbishop Martin Krebs was named Apostolic Nuncio to New Zealand, to Cook Islands, to Kiribata, to Palau, and to Micronesia, Federated States of.

The posts had been vacant since Archbishop Charles Daniel Balvo was named Apostolic Nuncio to Kenya in January 2013

Archbishop Krebs had been serving as Apostolic Nuncio to Guinea and to Mali.

Nulty named Kildare and Leighlin Bishop

Bishop-elect Denis Nulty was named Bishop of Kildare and Leighlin, Ireland.

The diocese had been vacant since the resignation of Bishop James Moriarty in April 2010.

Kambanda named Kibungo Bishop

Bishop-elect Antoine Kambanda was named Bishop of Kibungo, Rwanda.

The diocese had been vacant since the resignation of Bishop Kizito Bahujimihigo in January 2010.

Mpambani named Kokstad Bishop

Bishop-elect Zolile Peter Mpambani, S.C.I. was named Bishop of Kokstad, South Africa.

The diocese had been vacant since then-Bishop William Slattery, O.F.M. was named Archbishop of Pretoria in December 2010.

Maletti named Merlo-Moreno Bishop

Bishop Fernando Carlos Maletti was named Bishop of Merlo-Moreno, Argentina.

The diocese had been vacant since the resignation of Bishop Fernando María Bargalló in June 2012.

Bishop Maletti had been serving as Bishop of San Carlos de Bariloche.

Seitz named El Paso Bishop

Bishop Mark Joseph Seitz was named Bishop of El Paso, Texas, USA.

The diocese had been vacant since Bishop Armando Xavier Ochoa was named Bishop of Fresno, California in December 2011.

Bishop Seitz had been serving as Auxiliary Bishop of Dallas, Texas.

Barber named Oakland Bishop

Bishop-elect Michael C. Barber, S.J. was named Bishop of Oakland, California, USA.

The diocese had been vacant since then-Bishop Salvatore Joseph Cordileone was named Archbishop of San Francisco in July 2012.

Bishop McFadden Died

Bishop Joseph Patrick McFadden, Bishop of Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, USA, has died.

He would have turned 66 later this month. He was also a fortnight away from celebrating 32 years as a priest. He had served as a bishop for 8 years.

May he rest in peace.

Murphy retired, Browne named Kerry Bishop

Bishop William Murphy retired and Bishop-elect Raymond Browne was named Bishop of Kerry, Ireland.

Antiba confirmed as Bosra e Haūrān Archbishop

Archbishop-elect Nicolas Antiba, B.A. was confirmed as Archbishop of Bosra e Haūrān (Melkite Greek), Syria.

The archdiocese had been vacant since the retirement of Archbishop Boulos Nassif Borkhoche, S.M.S.P. in September 2011.

Visco named Capua Archbishop

Archbishop-designate Salvatore Visco was named Archbishop of Capua, Italy.

The archdiocese had been vacant since the death of Archbishop Bruno Schettino in September 2012.

Archbishop-designate Visco had been serving as Bishop of Isernia-Venafro.

Brown Jiménez retired, Aguilar Aguilar named Santiago de Veraguas Bishop

Bishop Oscar Mario Brown Jiménez retired and Bishop Audilio Aguilar Aguilar was named Bishop of Santiago de Veraguas, Panama.

Bishop Aguilar Aguilar had been serving as Bishop of Colón-Kuna Yala.

Mejía Giraldo named Florencia Bishop

Bishop-elect Omar de Jesús Mejía Giraldo was named Bishop of Florencia, Colombia.

The diocese had been vacant since Bishop Jorge Alberto Ossa Soto was named Bishop of Santa Rosa de Osos in July 2011.

Mvemve resigned as Klerksdorp Bishop

Bishop Zithulele Patrick Mvemve resigned as Bishop of Klerksdorp, South Africa.

Archbishop Buti Joseph Tlhagale, O.M.I., Archbishop of Johannesburg, was named Apostolic Administrator.

Menéndez Fernández named Oviedo Auxiliary

Bishop-elect Juan Antonio Menéndez Fernández was named Auxiliary Bishop of Oviedo, Spain and titular bishop of Nasai.

Torres Durán retired, Valdivieso Miranda named Chitré Bishop

Bishop Fernando Torres Durán retired and Bishop-elect Rafael Valdivieso Miranda was named Bishop of Chitré, Panama.

Lacrampe resigned as Besançon Archbishop

Archbishop André Jean René Lacrampe, Ist. del Prado resigned as Archbishop of Besançon, France.

Silva named Ribeirão Preto Archbishop

Archbishop-designate Moacir Silva was named Archbishop of Ribeirão Preto, Sao Paulo, Brazil

The archdiocese had been vacant since the death of Archbishop Joviano de Lima Júnior, S.S.S. in June 2012.

Archbishop-designate Silva had been serving as Bishop of São José dos Campos.

Weber retired, Meurer named Santo Ângelo Bishop

Bishop José Clemente Weber retired and Bishop Liro Vendelino Meurer was named Bishop of Santo Ângelo, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil.

Bishop Meurer had been serving as Auxiliary Bishop of Passo Fundo.

Jamrozek Named Przemyśl Auxiliary

Bishop-elect Stanisław Jamrozek was named Auxiliary Bishop of Przemyśl, Poland and titular bishop of Chełm.

Lach named Prešov Auxiliary

Bishop-elect Milan Lach, S.J. was named Auxiliary Bishop of Prešov (Prjašev) (Slovakian), Slovakia and titular bishop of Ostracine.

Srakić retired, Hranić named Đakovo-Osijek Archbishop

Archbishop Marin Srakić retired and Archbishop-designate Đuro Hranić was named Archbishop of Đakovo-Osijek, Croatia.

Archbishop-designate Hranić had been serving as Auxiliary Bishop of the same archdiocese.

Hurley retired, Walkowiak named Grand Rapids Bishop

Bishop Walter Allison Hurley retired and Bishop-elect David J. Walkowiak was named Bishop of Grand Rapids, Michigan, USA.

Abi Karam retired, Tarabay named Saint Maron of Sydney Bishop

Bishop Ad Abi Karam retired and Bishop-elect Antoine Tarabay, O.L.M. was named Bishop of Saint Maron of Sydney (Maronite), Australia.

Merhi retired, Chamieh named San Charbel en Buenos Aires Administrator

Bishop Charbel Georges Merhi, C.M.L. retired as Bishop of San Charbel en Buenos Aires (Maronite), Argentina.

Bishop-elect Habib Chamieh, O.M.M. was named Apostolic Administrator and titular bishop of Nomentum.

Banach named Papua New Guinea Nuncio

Archbishop-elect Michael Wallace Banach was named Apostolic Nuncio to Papua New Guinea.

Nazzaro retired as Alep Vicar Apostolic

Bishop Giuseppe Nazzaro, O.F.M. retired as Vicar Apostolic of Alep [Beroea, Halab], Syria.

Kalenga Badikebele named Belize Nuncio

Archbishop Léon Kalenga Badikebele was named Apostolic Nuncio to Belize, Antilles in addition to his other roles.

The post had been vacant since Archbishop Luigi Pezzuto was named Apostolic Nuncio to Bosnia-Herzegovina in November 2012.

Cavalli named Libya Nuncio

Archbishop Aldo Cavalli was named Apostolic Nuncio to Libya in addition to his other roles.

The post had been vacant since Archbishop Tommaso Caputo was named Prelate of Pompei o Beatissima Vergine Maria del Santissimo Rosario in November 2012.

Okobo retired, Onah named Nsukka Bishop

Bishop Francis Emmanuel Ogbonna Okobo retired and Bishop-elect Godfrey Igwebuike Onah was named Bishop of Nsukka, Nigeria.

Reddy named Warangal Bishop

Bishop-elect Udumala Bala Show Reddy was named Bishop of Warangal, India.

The diocese had been vacant since then-Bishop Thumma Bala was named Archbishop of Hyderabad in March 2011.

Cardinal Group to study government of the universal Church

The Holy Father has established a group of Cardinals to advise him "in the government of the universal Church and to study a plan for revising the Apostolic Constitution on the Roman Curia, Pastor Bonus." The group consists of:

• Coordinator: Oscar Andrés Cardinal Rodríguez Maradiaga, S.D.B., Archbishop of Tegucigalpa, Honduras
• Secretary: Bishop Marcello Semeraro, Bishop of Albano, Italy
• Giuseppe Cardinal Bertello, President of the Governatorate of Vatican City State
• Francisco Javier Cardinal Errázuriz Ossa, P. Schönstatt, Archbishop Emeritus of Santiago de Chile
• Oswald Cardinal Gracias, Archbishop of Bombay, India
• Reinhard Cardinal Marx, Archbishop of München und Freising {Munich}, Germany
• Laurent Cardinal Monsengwo Pasinya, Archbishop of Kinshasa, Congo (Dem. Rep.)
• Sean Patrick Cardinal O’Malley, O.F.M. Cap., Archbishop of Boston, Massachusetts, USA
• George Cardinal Pell, Archbishop of Sydney, Australia

This was announced today with the first meeting planned for 1-3 October 2013. The announcement noted that Pope Francis is already in contact with the group.

All of the members (with the exception of the Secretary, Bishop Semeraro) are Cardinal Electors that participated in the Conclave last month.

Pastor Bonus was published on 28 June 1988 by Pope John Paul II.

I've added a new page to the main website for this group.

McPherson named Montego Bay Bishop

Bishop-elect Burchell Alexander McPherson was named Bishop of Montego Bay, Jamaica, Antilles.

The diocese had been vacant since then-Bishop Charles Henry Dufour was named Archbishop of Kingston in April 2011.

Udaigwe named Benin Nuncio

Archbishop Brian Udaigwe was named Apostolic Nuncio to Benin.

The post had been vacant since Archbishop Michael August Blume, S.V.D. was named Apostolic Nuncio to Uganda in February 2013.

Hanna confirmed as Minya Bishop

Bishop Kamal Fahim Awad (Boutros) Hanna was confirmed as Bishop of Minya {Ermopoli Maggiore; Minieh} (Coptic), Egypt.

Ferrara retired as Piana degli Albanesi Bishop

Bishop Sotìr Ferrara retired as Bishop of Piana degli Albanesi (Italo-Albanese), Italy.

Evangelista named Imus Bishop

Bishop Reynaldo Gonda Evangelista was named Bishop of Imus, Philippines.

The diocese had been vacant since then-Bishop Luis Antonio Gokim Tagle was named Archbishop of Manila in October 2011.

Bishop Evangelista had been serving as Bishop of Boac.

Hanus resigned, Jackels named Dubuque Archbishop

Archbishop Jerome George Hanus, O.S.B. resigned and Archbishop-designate Michael Owen Jackels was named Archbishop of Dubuque, Iowa, USA.

Archbishop-designate Jackels had been serving as Bishop of Wichita, Kansas.

Folda named Fargo Bishop

Bishop-elect John T. Folda was named Bishop of Fargo, North Dakota, USA.

The diocese had been vacant since then-Bishop Samuel Joseph Aquila was named Archbishop of Denver, Colorado in May 2012.

Rodríguez Carballo named Institutes of Consecrated Life and Societies of Apostolic Life Secretary

Archbishop-elect José Rodríguez Carballo, O.F.M. was named Secretary of the Congregation for Institutes of Consecrated Life and Societies of Apostolic Life and titular bishop of Bellicastrum.

The post had been vacant since Archbishop Joseph William Tobin, C.SS.R. was named Archbishop of Indianapolis, Indiana, USA in October 2012.

Bačkis retired, Grušas named Vilnius Archbishop

Audrys Juozas Cardinal Bačkis retired and Archbishop-designate Gintaras Linas Grušas was named Archbishop of Vilnius, Lithuania.

Archbishop-designate Grušas had been serving as Bishop of Lithuania, Military.

Poli named Buenos Aires Archbishop

Archbishop-designate Mario Aurelio Poli was named Archbishop of Buenos Aires, Argentina.

The archdiocese had been vacant since then-Archbishop Jorge Mario Bergoglio, S.J. was elected Pope Francis, Bishop of Rome.

Archbishop-designate Poli had been serving as Bishop of Santa Rosa.

Pope Francis meets with Cardinal Ouellet

Today Pope Francis had an audience with Marc Cardinal Ouellet, Prefect of the Congregation for Bishops.

This may be an indication that the normal process of selecting bishops around the world is beginning to resume.

However, I note that Pope Francis has been meeting with many of the leaders of various curial diacastries in the last week - so this could also just be a general meeting where the Pope is expressing what he needs from this office and the Prefect can explain what is currently in the works.

A clearer sign of the resumption will be the return of the weekly or fortnightly audiences.

Curia Restoration

The Holy Father announced his wish that all of the heads of the curia offices suspended by Sede Vacante should continue, temporarily, in their respective positions donec aliter provideatur (until otherwise provided).

See a Structured View of the curial offices.

Pope Francis (Jorge Mario Bergoglio, S.J.) Biography

Pope Francis

Jorge Mario Bergoglio, S.J.

Pope (Roma {Rome})

---

Events

Date	Age	Event	Title
17 Dec 1936	76.2	Born	Buenos Aires
13 Dec 1969	33.0	Ordained Priest	Priest of Society of Jesus
20 May 1992	55.4	Appointed	Auxiliary Bishop of Buenos Aires, Argentina
20 May 1992	55.4	Appointed	Titular Bishop of Auca
27 Jun 1992	55.5	Ordained Bishop	Titular Bishop of Auca
3 Jun 1997	60.5	Appointed	Coadjutor Archbishop of Buenos Aires, Argentina
28 Feb 1998	61.2	Succeeded	Archbishop of Buenos Aires, Argentina
6 Nov 1998	61.9	Appointed	Bishop of Argentina, Faithful of the Eastern Rites
21 Feb 2001	64.2	Elevated to Cardinal
21 Feb 2001	64.2	Appointed	Cardinal-Priest of San Roberto Bellarmino
13 Mar 2013	76.2	Elected	Pope (Roma {Rome}, Italy)
19 Mar 2013	76.3	Installed	Pope (Roma {Rome}, Italy)

Consistory - 2001: Created Cardinal Conclave - 2005: Participated Ad Limina - March 2009: Bishop Ad Limina - March 2009: Bishop Conclave - 2013: Participated; Elected Pope

Please contact the Pope through the Diocese of Roma {Rome}. a priest for 43.25 years a bishop for 20.71 years a cardinal for 12.1 years (Elected Pope) a pope for 0.00 years

Ordained Priest by: Archbishop Ramón José Castellano † Titular Archbishop of Iomnium Principal Consecrator: Antonio Cardinal Quarracino † Archbishop of Buenos Aires Principal Co-Consecrators: Bishop Emilio Ogñénovich † Bishop of Mercedes-Luján Archbishop Ubaldo Calabresi † Titular Archbishop of Fundi

Episcopal Lineage / Apostolic Succession: Antonio Cardinal Quarracino † (1962) Archbishop of Buenos Aires Bishop Anunciado Serafini † (1935) Bishop of Mercedes Archbishop Zenobio Lorenzo Guilland † (1935) Archbishop of Paraná Archbishop Filippo Cortesi † (1921) Titular Archbishop of Siraces Antonio Cardinal Vico † (1898) Cardinal-Bishop of Porto e Santa Rufina Mariano Cardinal Rampolla del Tindaro † (1882) Cardinal-Priest of Santa Cecilia Edward Henry Cardinal Howard † (1872) Archpriest of the Basilica di San Pietro in Vaticano {Saint Peter Basilica} Carlo Cardinal Sacconi † (1851) Cardinal-Bishop of Palestrina Giacomo Filippo Cardinal Fransoni † (1822) Cardinal-Priest of Santa Maria in Ara Coeli Pietro Francesco Cardinal Galleffi † (1819) Cardinal-Bishop of Albano Alessandro Cardinal Mattei † (1777) Cardinal-Bishop of Ostia (e Velletri) Bernardino Cardinal Giraud † (1767) Cardinal-Priest of Santissima Trinità al Monte Pincio Pope Clement XIII (1743) (Carlo della Torre Rezzonico †) Pope Benedict XIV (1724) (Prospero Lorenzo Lambertini †) Pope Benedict XIII (1675) (Pietro Francesco (Vincenzo Maria) Orsini de Gravina, O.P. †) Paluzzo Cardinal Paluzzi Altieri Degli Albertoni † (1666) Chamberlain (Camerlengo) of the Apostolic Chamber Ulderico Cardinal Carpegna † (1630) Cardinal-Priest of Santa Maria in Trastevere Luigi Cardinal Caetani † (1622) Cardinal-Priest of Santa Pudenziana Ludovico Cardinal Ludovisi † (1621) Archbishop of Bologna Archbishop Galeazzo Sanvitale † (1604) Archbishop Emeritus of Bari (-Canosa) Girolamo Cardinal Bernerio, O.P. † (1586) Cardinal-Bishop of Albano Giulio Antonio Cardinal Santorio † (1566) Cardinal-Priest of San Bartolomeo all’Isola Scipione Cardinal Rebiba † Cardinal-Priest of Sant’Anastasia

Principal Consecrator of: Bishop Horacio Ernesto Benites Astoul (1999) Bishop Jorge Rubén Lugones, S.J. (1999) Bishop Jorge Eduardo Lozano (2000) Bishop Joaquín Mariano Sucunza (2000) Bishop José Antonio Gentico † (2001) Bishop Fernando Carlos Maletti (2001) Archbishop Andrés Stanovnik, O.F.M. Cap. (2001) Bishop Mario Aurelio Poli (2002) Bishop Eduardo Horacio García (2003) Bishop Adolfo Armando Uriona, F.D.P. (2004) Bishop Eduardo Maria Taussig (2004) Bishop Raúl Martín (2006) Bishop Hugo Manuel Salaberry Goyeneche, S.J. (2006) Bishop Óscar Vicente Ojea Quintana (2006) Bishop Hugo Nicolás Barbaro (2008) Bishop Enrique Eguía Seguí (2008) Bishop Ariel Edgardo Torrado Mosconi (2008) Bishop Luis Alberto Fernández (2009) Bishop Vicente Bokalic Iglic, C.M. (2010) Archbishop Alfredo Horacio Zecca (2011) Principal Co-Consecrator of: Bishop Oscar Domingo Sarlinga (2003) Archbishop Luis Mariano Montemayor (2008)

Pope Francis (Jorge Mario Bergoglio, S.J.)

Pope Francis (Jorge Mario Bergoglio, S.J.) was elected by the Conclave of 2013.

He had been serving as Archbishop of Buenos Aires, Argentina.

Black Smoke

The Conclave continues...

Conclave begins on Tuesday 12 March 2013

The Conclave to elect a successor to Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI will begin the afternoon of Tuesday 12 March 2013.

More information on the participants can be found here.

Pope Benedict XVI resigned as Pope

Pope Benedict XVI (Joseph Ratzinger) has resigned as Pope (Roma {Rome}, Italy).

The Conclave to elect his successor should begin in the next two to three weeks.

Dinh Duc Dao named Xuân Lôc Auxiliary

Bishop-elect Joseph Dinh Duc Dao was named Auxiliary Bishop of Xuân Lôc, Viêt Nam and titular bishop of Gadiaufala.

Rovai retired, Jofré Giraudo named Villa María Bishop

Bishop José Ángel Rovai retired and Bishop-elect Samuel Jofré Giraudo was named Bishop of Villa María, Argentina.

Kelly resigned as Liverpool Archbishop

Archbishop Patrick Altham Kelly resigned as Archbishop of Liverpool, England, Great Britain.

Clifford resigned as Armagh Auxiliary

Bishop Gerard Clifford resigned as Auxiliary Bishop of Armagh, Ireland.

O’Brien retired as Saint Andrews and Edinburgh Archbishop

Keith Michael Patrick O’Brien retired as Archbishop of Saint Andrews and Edinburgh, Scotland, Great Britain.

The retirement was announced today but was effective on Monday 18 February 2013.

He has also indicated that he will be unable to participate in the upcoming Conclave.

Blin resigned as Vitebsk Bishop

Bishop Władisław Blin resigned as Bishop of Vitebsk, Belarus.

Sosa Arriaga named Tlapa Bishop

Bishop Dagoberto Sosa Arriaga was named Bishop of Tlapa, Guerrero, México.

The diocese had been vacant since Bishop Oscar Roberto Domínguez Couttolenc, M.G. was named Bishop of Ecatepec in July 2012.

Bishop Sosa Arriaga had been serving as Auxiliary Bishop of Puebla de los Ángeles.

Lagnese named Ischia Bishop

Bishop-elect Pietro Lagnese was named Bishop of Ischia, Italy.

The diocese had been vacant since the resignation of Bishop Filippo Strofaldi in July 2012.

Banach and Udaigwe named Nuncios

Archbishop-elect Michael W. Banach and Archbishop-elect Brian Udaigwe were both named Apostolic Nuncios, but without specifying a post. They were also named titular archbishops of Memphis and Suelli, respectively.

Kalenga Badikebele named El Salvador Nuncio

Archbishop Léon Kalenga Badikebele was named Apostolic Nuncio to El Salvador.

The post had been vacant since Archbishop Luigi Pezzuto was named Apostolic Nuncio to Bosnia-Herzegovina in November 2012.

Archbishop Kalenga Badikebele had been serving as Apostolic Nuncio to Ghana.

Balestrero named Colombia Nuncio

Archbishop-elect Ettore Balestrero was named Apostolic Nuncio to Colombia and titular archbishop of Victoriana.

The post had been vacant since Archbishop Aldo Cavalli was named Apostolic Nuncio to Malta earlier this month.

Adamczyk named Liberia Nuncio

Archbishop-elect Mirosław Adamczyk was named Apostolic Nuncio to Liberia and titular archbishop of Otriculum.

The post had been vacant since Archbishop George Antonysamy was named Archbishop of Madras and Mylapore (Meliapor), India in November 2012.

Olaverri Arroniz named Pointe-Noire Bishop

Bishop-elect Miguel Angel Olaverri Arroniz, S.D.B. was named Bishop of Pointe-Noire, Congo.

Erected: Puerto Leguízamo-Solano; Pinzón Güiza named Vicar Apostolic

The Vicariate Apostolic of Puerto Leguízamo-Solano, Colombia was erected with territory taken from San Vicente-Puerto Leguízamo.

Bishop-elect Joaquím Humberto Pinzón Güiza, I.M.C. was named its first Vicar Apostolic and titular bishop of Ottocium.

Marchesi named Floresta Bishop

Bishop-elect Gabriele Marchesi was named Bishop of Floresta, Pernambuco, Brazil.

The diocese had been vacant since Bishop Adriano Ciocca Vasino was named Prelate of São Félix, Mato Grosso in March 2012.

Guimarães Moreira resigned, Gubiotti named Itabira-Fabriciano Bishop

Bishop Odilon Guimarães Moreira resigned and Bishop-elect Marco Aurélio Gubiotti was named Bishop of Itabira-Fabriciano, Minas Gerais, Brazil.

Sigampa retired, Dus named Resistencia Archbishop

Archbishop Fabriciano Sigampa retired and Archbishop-designate Ramón Alfredo Dus was named Archbishop of Resistencia, Argentina.

Archbishop-designate Dus had been serving as Bishop of Reconquista.

D’Annibale named Río Gallegos Bishop

Bishop Miguel Ángel D’Annibale was named Bishop of Río Gallegos, Argentina.

The diocese had been vacant since the resignation of Bishop Juan Carlos Romanin, S.D.B. in April 2012.

Bishop D’Annibale had been serving as Auxiliary Bishop of the same diocese.

Antoniazzi named Tunis Archbishop

Archbishop-elect Ilario Antoniazzi was named Archbishop of Tunis, Tunisia.

The archdiocese had been vacant since Archbishop Maroun Elias Nimeh Lahham was named Auxiliary Bishop of Jerusalem {Gerusalemme} in January 2012.

Miehm named Hamilton Auxiliary

Bishop-elect Daniel Miehm was named Auxiliary Bishop of Hamilton, Ontario, Canada and titular bishop of Gor.

Angonese named Curitiba Auxiliary

Bishop-elect José Mário Angonese was named Auxiliary Bishop of Curitiba, Parana, Brazil and titular bishop of Giufi.

Martínez Castilla named Tuxtla Gutiérrez Archbishop

Archbishop-designate Fabio Martínez Castilla was named Archbishop of Tuxtla Gutiérrez, Chiapas, México.

The archdiocese had been vacant since Archbishop Rogelio Cabrera López was named Archbishop of Monterrey, Nuevo León in October 2012.

Archbishop-designate Martínez Castilla had been serving as Bishop of Ciudad Lázaro Cárdenas, Michoacán.

Mdoe named Dar-es-Salaam Auxiliary

Bishop-elect Titus Joseph Mdoe was named Auxiliary Bishop of Dar-es-Salaam, Tanzania and titular bishop of Bahanna.

Cavalli named Malta Nuncio

Archbishop Aldo Cavalli was named Apostolic Nuncio to Malta.

The post had been vacant since Archbishop Tommaso Caputo was named Prelate of Pompei o Beatissima Vergine Maria del Santissimo Rosario) in November 2012.

Archbishop Cavalli had been serving as Apostolic Nuncio to Colombia.

Rouleau retired, Krótki named Churchill-Baie d’Hudson Bishop

Bishop Reynald Rouleau, O.M.I. retired and Bishop-elect Anthony Wieslaw Krótki, O.M.I. was named Bishop of Churchill-Baie d’Hudson, Manitoba, Canada.

Percerou named Moulins Bishop

Bishop-elect Laurent Percerou was named Bishop of Moulins, France.

The diocese had been vacant since Bishop Pascal Marie Roland was named Bishop of Belley-Ars in June 2012.

Coyle named USA Military Auxiliary

Bishop-elect Robert J. Coyle was named Auxiliary Bishop of United States of America, Military and titular bishop of Zabi.

Pope Benedict XVI to Resign on 28 February

Pope Benedict XVI (Joseph Ratzinger) has announced his intention to resign as Pope (Bishop of Roma, Italy) effective on 28 February 2013 at 8pm (local time in Rome).

Buezo Leiva named Izabal Vicar Apostolic

Bishop-elect Domingo Buezo Leiva was named Vicar Apostolic of Izabal, Guatemala and titular bishop of Dardanus.

The post had been vacant since the resignation of Bishop Gabriel Peñate Rodríguez in July 2011.

Di Cristina retired, Pennisi named Monreale Archbishop

Archbishop Salvatore Di Cristina retired and Archbishop-designate Michele Pennisi was named Archbishop of Monreale, Italy

Archbishop-designate Pennisi had been serving as Bishop of Piazza Armerina.

Cametá elevated to Diocese, Vizaurre Berdonces named Bishop

The Territorial Prelature was elevated into the Diocese of Cametá, Para, Brazil.

Bishop Jesús María Cizaurre Berdonces, O.A.R., it's previous ordinary, was named it's first Bishop.

Mamede named Brasilia Auxiliary

Bishop-elect Valdir Mamede was named Auxiliary Bishop of Brasília, Distrito Federal, Brazil and titular bishop of Naissus.

Pérez Rodríguez retired, Juárez Párraga named Sucre Archbishop

Archbishop Jesús Gervasio Pérez Rodríguez, O.F.M. retired and Archbishop-designate Jesús Juárez Párraga, S.D.B. was named Archbishop of Sucre, Bolivia.

Archbishop-designate Juárez Párraga had been serving as Bishop of El Alto.

Ghabroyan retired, Teyrouz named Sainte-Croix-de-Paris Bishop

Bishop Grégoire (Krikor) Ghabroyan, I.C.P.B. retired and Bishop Jean Teyrouz, I.C.P.B. was named Bishop of Sainte-Croix-de-Paris (Armenian), France.


Bishop Teyrouz had been serving as Curial Bishop of Cilicia, Lebanon.

Ukpo retired, Ekuwem named Calabar Archbishop

Archbishop Joseph Edra Ukpo retired and Archbishop-designate Joseph Effiong Ekuwem was named Archbishop of Calabar, Nigeria.

Archbishop-designate Ekuwem had been serving as Bishop of Uyo.

Galvan Flores named Corocoro Prelate

Bishop-elect Percy Lorenzo Galvan Flores was named Prelate of Corocoro, Bolivia.

Casey retired, Coter named Pando Vicar Apostolic

Bishop Luis Morgan Casey retired and Bishop-elect Eugenio Coter was named Vicar Apostolic of Pando, Bolivia and titular bishop of Thibiuca.

Blume named Uganda Nuncio

Archbishop Michael August Blume, S.V.D. was named Apostolic Nuncio to Uganda.

The post had been vacant since Archbishop Paul Tschang In-Nam was named Apostolic Nuncio to Thailand.

Archbishop Blume had been serving as Apostolic Nuncio to Benin and to Togo.

Aupetit named Paris Auxiliary

Bishop-elect Michel Aupetit was named Auxiliary Bishop of Paris, France and titular bishop of Maxita.

Sako confirmed as Chaldean Patriarch

Patriarch-designate Louis Raphaël I Sako was confirmed as Patriarch of Babylon {Babilonia} (Chaldean), Iraq and Archbishop of Baghdad.

He replaces Patriarch Emmanuel III (Emmanuel-Karim) Delly who retired in December 2012.

Patriarch-designate Sako had been serving as Archbishop of Kerkūk.