VATICAN CITY, FEB. 2, 2010 (Zenit.org).- The Vatican announced today seven episcopal appointments made by Benedict XVI, including naming the archbishop of Paris to the Congregation for the Clergy.
Cardinal André Vingt-Trois, 67, will now be part of the dicastery headed by Cardinal Cláudio Hummes, as the Church continues to celebrate the Year for Priests.
The appointments included two new appointments for Africa and three for the Americas.
The Pope accepted the resignation of Bishop Joseph Randrianasolo of Mahajanga, Madagascar. Coadjutor Bishop Roger Rakotondrajao succeeded him.
For the Diocese of Ouahigouya, Burkina Faso, he appointed Father Justin Kientega, 50.
Ouahigouya has some 100,000 Catholics in a population of 1.2 million. Burkina Faso’s overall population is 10% Catholic, while 50% is Muslim and 40% adhere to indigenous beliefs.
Bishop-elect Kientega was ordained in 1987.
For the Americas, the Holy Father appointed Bishop Carlos Mesa Ruiz of Arauca, Colombia, as bishop of Socorro y San Gil.
The population of the region of that diocese is almost exclusively Catholic, with some 258,000 faithful being served by 102 priests and 147 religious.
Also in Colombia, the Pontiff appointed Bishop Guillermo Orozco Montoya of San Jose del Guaviare, as bishop of Girardota.
Some 191,000 Catholics in the Diocese of Girardota are served by 57 priests, and 75 religious, as well as one permanent deacon.
And in Mexico, the Pope appointed Bishop Oscar Campos Contreras, auxiliary of Antequera, Oaxaca, as bishop of Tehuantepec.
The 62-year-old bishop takes on a diocese on the isthmus of southern Mexico, where more than 1.3 million Catholics are served by just 76 priests and 125 religious.
Finally, Benedict XVI appointed Archbishop Augustine Kasujja, apostolic nuncio to Madagascar, Mauritius and Seychelles, and apostolic delegate to Comoros with functions as apostolic delegate to Reunion, as apostolic nuncio to Nigeria.
