WASHINGTON, D.C., JUNE 24, 2004 (Zenit.org).- John Paul II accepted the resignation of Archbishop John Elya, of the Melkite Catholic Eparchy of Newton, in Massachusetts, and appointed Archbishop Cyrille Salim Bustros of Baalbeck, Lebanon, to the same see.
Cyrille Bustros, of the Missionaries of St. Paul, was born in Ain-Bourday, Lebanon, in January 1939. He was ordained a priest in June 1962 and consecrated a bishop in November 1988.
Archbishop Elya reached the mandatory retirement age of 75 last September.
The Eparchy of Newton was established as an apostolic exarchate in 1966 and elevated to eparchy in 1976. Headquartered in Roslindale, Massachusetts, it embraces all members of the Melkite Greek Catholic Church in the United States, with a population of about 30,000. It has parishes in 18 states.
