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18 December 2006

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.

10 December 2006

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.

09 December 2006

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.

06 December 2006

28 November 2006

Technology Test on the Main Site

I'm considering some changes to the diocese pages on the main site.

Here is an example of the new style and the same page in the old style. (note: some of the links may be broken on these pages, the test is about the design of the page itself.)

The main changes are: 1) adjusted the location of the diocese's historical detail info; 2) adjusted some of the section titles; and 3) replaced the "jump to" bar with a "show" bar (the big change).

The "show" bar allows the user to pick which sections (or "all") of the page to see. This is especially useful when one is printing out the page and only needs certain sections.

A variation of this technology is also being considered for other parts of the site - so any feedback would be greatly appreciated. Please use the regular feedback form on the site.

Thanks again :-)

Housset named La Rochelle (-Saintes) Bishop

Bishop Bernard Housset was named Bishop of La Rochelle (-Saintes), France. The diocese had been vacant since then-Bishop Georges Paul Pontier was named Archbishop of Marseille in May 2006. Bishop Housset had been serving as Bishop of Montauban.

25 November 2006

Ruzoka named Tabora Archbishop

Archbishop-designate Paul R. Ruzoka was named Archbishop of Tabora, Tanzania. The Archdiocese had been vacant since the death of Archbishop Mario Epifanio Abdallah Mgulunde in March 2006. Archbishop-designate Ruzoka had been serving as Bishop of Kigoma.

Ravasi retired, Kihara Kariuki named Marsabit Bishop

Bishop Ambrogio Ravasi, I.M.C. retired and Bishop Peter Kihara Kariuki, I.M.C. was named Bishop of Marsabit, Kenya. Bishop Kihara Kariuki had been serving as Bishop of Muranga.

Karikassery named Verapoly Auxiliary

Bishop-elect Joseph Karikassery was named Auxiliary Bishop of Verapoly, India and titular bishop of Buxentum.

Goa e Damão elevated to a Metropolitan

The Archdiocese of Goa e Damão, India was elevated to a Metropolitan Archdiocese with the Diocese of Sindhudurg as a suffragan.

Bujumbura elevated to Archdiocese

The diocese of Bujumbura, Burundi was elevated to an Archdiocese. Archbishop-designate Evariste Ngoyagoye remains the ordinary. The dioceses of Bubanza and Bururi were made suffragans of the new archdiocese.

Reorganization of the Provinces of Mexico

There was a major reorganization of the provinces within Mexico.

Four dioceses were elevated to Metropolitan Archdioceses: Tijuana, León, Tulancingo, and Tuxtla Gutiérrez. The respective ordinaries of each of these were named Archbishops.

Numerous dioceses changed Metropolitans as part of this reorganization.

The complete new structure of the Dioceses of Mexico can be found on the site.

21 November 2006

Cardinal Baum turns 80 - The End of an Era

William Wakefield Cardinal Baum has turned 80 years of age and thus loses his right to vote in a conclave. He was also the last pre-Pope John Paul II voting Cardinal.

He was elevated to the Cardinalate by Pope Paul VI in 1976. The only other one elevated by Pope Paul VI and under the age of 80 is Pope Benedict XVI, who was elevated in 1977.

There are 114 Cardinal Electors of the 187 living Cardinals. Of those, 102 were elevated by Pope John Paul II and the remaining 12 by Pope Benedict XVI.

Leichtfried named Sankt Pölten Auxiliary

Bishop-elect Anton Leichtfried was named Auxiliary Bishop of Sankt Pölten, Austria and titular bishop of Rufiniana.

Graziani named Crotone-Santa Severina Archbishop

Archbishop-designate Domenico Graziani was named Archbishop of Crotone-Santa Severina, Italy. The archdiocese had been vacant since Archbishop Andrea Mugione was named Archbishop of Benevento. Archbishop-designate Graziani had been serving as Bishop of Cassano all'Jonio.

Ekpu retired as Benin City Archbishop

Archbishop Patrick Ebosele Ekpu has retired as Archbishop of Benin City, Nigeria.

20 November 2006

Bishop Dudley Died

Bishop Paul Vincent Dudley, Bishop Emeritus of Sioux Falls, South Dakota, USA, has died. He was just 7 days from his 80th birthday and had served as a priest for 55 years and as a bishop for 30 years. May he rest in peace.

17 November 2006

Archbishop Mansour Died

Archbishop Jean Mansour, M.S.S.P., Auxiliary Bishop Emeritus of Antiochia {Antioch} (Melkite), Syria, has died. He was 78 and had served as a priest for 54 years and as a bishop for 26 years. May he rest in peace.

Bishop Moreno Died

Bishop Manuel Duran Moreno, Bishop Emeritus of Tucson, Arizona, USA, has died. He was 10 days from his 76th birthday and he served as a priest for 45 years and as a bishop for just under 30 years. May he rest in peace.

Bishop D'Silva Died

Bishop Joseph D'Silva, Bishop of Bellary, India, had died. He was 74 and had served as a priest for 46 years and as Bishop of Bellary for 14 years. May he rest in peace.

16 November 2006

Bishop Zini Filho Died

Bishop Augusto José Zini Filho, Bishop of Limeira, Sao Paulo, Brazil, has died. He was 10 days from his 74th birthday and had served as a priest for 47 years and as a bishop for 12 years. May he rest in peace.

10 November 2006

Archbishop Monte Died

Archbishop Nivaldo Monte, Archbishop Emeritus of Natal, Rio Grande do Norte, Brazil, has died. He was 88 and had served as a bishop for 43 years and as a priest for 64 years. May he rest in peace.

04 November 2006

20 October 2006

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.

17 October 2006

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.

16 October 2006

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.

14 October 2006

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.

13 October 2006

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.

29 September 2006

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.

02 September 2006

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.

29 August 2006

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.

27 August 2006

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.

02 August 2006

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.

01 August 2006

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.

22 July 2006

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.

21 July 2006

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.

20 July 2006

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.

13 July 2006

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.

11 July 2006

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.

04 July 2006

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.

02 July 2006

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.

29 June 2006

Bishop Sabryha Died

Bishop Mykhajlo Sabryha, C.SS.R., Bishop of Ternopil-Zboriv (Ukrainian), Ukraine, has died. He served as a bishop for 19 years and a priest for 32 years. May he rest in peace.

22 June 2006

Szoka retired, Lajolo named his successor

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. These changes will become effective on 15 September 2006.

Sodano retires, Bertone named Secretary of State

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. These changes will become effective on 15 September 2006.

12 June 2006

Bishop Sullivan Died

Bishop James Stephen Sullivan, Bishop Emeritus of Fargo, North Dakota, USA, has died. He served as a bishop for 33 years and as a priest for 51 years and 8 days. May he rest in peace.

03 June 2006

Marcia named Cagliari Auxiliary

Bishop-elect Mosè Marcia was named Auxiliary Bishop of Cagliari, Italy and titular bishop of Vardimissa.

Dlungwana named Mariannhill Bishop

Bishop Pius Mlungisi Dlungwana was named Bishop of Mariannhill, South Africa. The diocese has been vacant since Bishop Paul Themba Mngoma resigned in February 2005 (he died a few months later). Bishop Dlungwana had been serving as an Auxiliary Bishop of the same diocese.

25 May 2006

Bishop de Andrade Ponte Died

Bishop Gerardo de Andrade Ponte, Bishop Emeritus of Patos, Paraiba, Brazil, has died. He served as a bishop for 31 years and as a priest for 57 years. May he rest in peace.

24 May 2006

Štumpf named Maribor Auxiliary

Bishop-elect Peter Štumpf, S.D.B. was named Auxiliary Bishop of Maribor, Slovenia and titular bishop of Musti in Numidia.

Soncuaco Pabillo named Manila Bishop

Bishop-elect Broderick Soncuaco Pabillo was named Auxiliary Bishop of Manila, Philippines and titular bishop of Sitifis.

Rodríguez named La Rioja Bishop

Bishop Roberto Rodríguez was named Bishop of La Rioja, Argentina. The diocese has been vacant since now-Archbishop Fabriciano Sigampa was named Archbishop of Resistencia in November, 2005. Bishop Rodríguez had been serving as Bishop of Villa María.

Ojea named Buenos Aires Auxiliary

Bishop-elect Óscar Vicente Ojea was named Auxiliary Bishop of Buenos Aires, Argentina and titular bishop of Suelli.

Bianchi di Cárcano retired, Salaberry named Azul Bishop

Bishop Emilio Bianchi di Cárcano retired and Bishop-elect Hugh Manuel Salaberry, S.J. was named Bishop of Azul, Argentina.

Abreu Herrera retired, Espinal de León named Mao-Monte Cristi Bishop

Bishop Jerónimo Tomás Abreu Herrera retired and Bishop Diómedes Antonio Espinal de León was named Bishop of Mao-Monte Cristi, Dominican Republic. Bishop Espinal de León had been serving as an Auxiliary Bishop of Santiago de los Caballeros.

14 May 2006

Bishop Aringarosa, Fictional Character

In response to enquiries, I have posted a page on the non-existant Bishop Manuel Aringarosa. This "person" is a character in the book and movie The Da Vinci Code and like the rest of the book and movie is fictional (i.e., not real).

09 May 2006

Bishop Van Vlierberghe Died

Bishop Cirilo Polidoro Van Vlierberghe, O.F.M., Prelate Emeritus of Illapel, Chile, has died. He served as a bishop for 39 years and as a priest for 71 years. May he rest in peace.

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