VATICAN CITY, MAY 10, 2010 (Zenit.org).- Benedict XVI made a series of decisions on Saturday regarding prelates in Germany, Poland and the Americas.
He accepted the resignation of a German bishop who is accused of physically and sexually abusing minors, and financial mismanagement.
Bishop Walter Mixa, 69, presented his resignation, though he denies any sexual abuse or misuse of money. He admits he did at times use forceful methods of discipline with those in his care.
Bishop Mixa was the ordinary in the Diocese of Augsburg, as well as the military bishop for Germany.
The diocese has presented the accusations against him to the Munich authorities and announced it will not make a further statement until the investigations are completed.
Synod appointments
The Holy Father also made two appointments for the special council for America of the general secretariat of the synod of bishops.
One of the appointees is Archbishop José Gómez, the newly named coadjutor bishop of Los Angeles. The other prelate named to the council is Archbishop Iván Marín López of Popayan, Colombia.
Also on Saturday, the Pope appointed Archbishop Jozef Kowalczyk, 71, as the archbishop of Gniezno and primate of Poland. He succeeds Archbishop Henryk Muszynski, who presented his resignation for reasons of age. Archbishop Kowalczyk had been serving as the apostolic nuncio to Poland since 1989.
Gniezno has some 667,000 Catholics, served by 541 priests and 340 religious.
