VATICAN CITY, JAN. 25, 2010 (Zenit.org).- Benedict XVI appointed Msgr. Piero Pioppo, nunciature counsellor and prelate of the Institute for the Works of Religion (IOR), as apostolic nuncio in Cameroon and Equatorial Guinea.
At the same time, he elevated him to the dignity of archbishop, reported the Holy See Press Office. Archbishop Pioppo, 49, is a native of Savona, Italy. He was ordained a priest in 1985.
With a licentiate in dogmatic theology, he entered the Holy See’s diplomatic service in 1993, and has worked in the papal representation in Korea and Chile, as well as in the General Affairs Section of the State Secretariat. He was appointed prelate of the Institute for the Works of Religion in 2006.
Benedict XVI also made several appointments to the Supreme Tribunal of the Apostolic Signatura. Among those named is Cardinal Giovanni Lajolo, president of the Pontifical Commission for Vatican City State and of the Governorate of Vatican City State.
Two archbishops were appointed: Archbishop Velasio De Paolis, president of the Prefecture for the Economic Affairs of the Holy See, and Archbishop Stanislav Zvolensky of Bratislava, Slovakia.
Three bishops were named: Bishop Filippo Iannone of Sora-Aquino-Pontecorvo, Italy; Bishop Fernando José Monteiro Guimarães of Garanhuns, Brazil; and Auxiliary Bishop Ryszard Kasyna of Gdansk, Poland.
On Monday, the Holy See Press Office also reported several appointments in the Catholic Eastern Churches.
Specifically, The Synod of Bishops of the Syro-Malankar Major Archiepiscopal Church, after consultation with the Holy See and the prior consent of the Pope, proceeded to erect the new Eparchy of Pathanamthitta, designating Bishop Yoohanon Chrysostom Kalloor of Marthandom, India, as first bishop of the new eparchy.
Father Vincent Kulapuravilai, professor at St. Mary’s Malankara Major Seminary, will succeed as the bishop of Marthandom.
The synod also erected the new Eparchy of Puthur and named Bishop Geevarghese Divannasios Ottathengil of Battery to lead it. Auxiliary Bishop Joseph Thomas Konnath of Trivandrum, India, will succeed as bishop of the Eparchy of Battery.
