Resignation of bishop of Tagum, Philippines, and appointment of successor
Resignation of President of Pontifical Council for Legislative Texts and appointment of new President
Appointment of apostolic nuncio in Azerbaijan
Appointment of eparchial bishop of Nyìregyháza
Resignation of bishop of Tagum, Philippines, and appointment of successor
The Holy Father has appointed as bishop of Tagum, Philippines, the Rev. Medel S. Aseo, of the clergy of the same diocese, currently missionary at the Saint Mary Parish, Pennsylvania, United States of America.
Rev. Medel S. Aseo
H.E. Msgr. Medel S. Aseo was born in Maniki, Kapaong, Davao del Norte, in the diocese of Tagum, on 27 June 1954. Following high school and courses in philosophy at the Saint Francis Xavier College Seminary in Davao City, he studied theology at the Saint Francis Xavier Regional major seminary of the same city. Subsequently, between 1988 and 1991, he carried out his postgraduate studies at the CEFAM Family Centre at the Loyola School of Theology of the Ateneo de Manila University.
He was ordained a priest for the diocese of Tagum on 7 April 1979.
During the years 1979-1980 he served as parish vicar at the Santo Niño parish in Panabo and, between 1980 and 1983, parish priest first in Manay and then Cateel in Davao Oriental. He was vice-rector and procurator at the Seminary College of Tagum, between 1983 and 1985, he was then Parish Priest in Maragusan, in the Davao del Norte, between 1986 and 1988.
Between 1988 and 1991 he attended the Loyola School of Theology for the aforementioned studies; then ending them, between 1996 and 1999.
Subsequently he was: parish priest in Panabo, diocesan director of the Apostolate for the Family, vicar forane and member of the College of Consultors (1991-1996); student at the Maryknoll Fathers and Brothers Centre House in Davao City (1999-2003); chaplain for Filipino sailors in the archdiocese of Liverpool, Great Britain (2003-2006); pastor of the parish of Saint Therese of the Child Jesus in Nabuturun, Compostela Valley in Davao (2006-2007); member of the Galilee Centre for priests in Tagatay City (2008-2015); vice-administrator of the parish of Saint Michael the Archangel in Tagum City (2016-2017).
Since 2017 he has been on a mission in Saint Mary parish, in the diocese of Greensburgh, Pennsylvania (U.S.A.).
Resignation of President of Pontifical Council for Legislative Texts and appointment of new President
The Holy Father Francis has accepted the resignation, presented upon reaching the age limit, of His Eminence Cardinal Francesco Coccopalmerio, from the office of President of the Pontifical Council for Legislative Texts, and has called to succeed him in the same office H.E. Msgr. Filippo Iannone, O. Carm., arcbishop-bishop emeritus of Sora-Cassino-Aquino-Pontecorvo, currently adjunct secretary of the same Pontifical Council for Legislative Texts.
Appointment of apostolic nuncio in Azerbaijan
The Holy Father has appointed as apostolic nuncio in Azerbaijan H.E. Rev. Msgr. Paul Fitzpatrick Russell, titular archbishop of Novi, apostolic nuncio in Turkey and in Turkmenistan.
Appointment of eparchial bishop of Nyìregyháza, Hungary
The Holy Father has appointed as eparchial bishop of Nyìregyháza Rev. Fr. Ábel Szocska, O.S.B.M., currently apostolic administrator sede vacante of the same eparchy.
Rev. Fr. Ábel Szocska O.S.B.M.
The Rev. Fr. Ábel Szocska, O.S.B.M., was born on 21 September 1972 in Vinohradiv, Ukraine, region of Trascarpatica. After his elemenatary studies in Ukraine and theological studies in Budapest at the Theological Institute of Religious Orders, he entered the Order of Saint Basil the Great in 1996.
On 30 September 2001 he was ordained a priest. On 16 February 2008 he was elected as provincial of the Basilian Fathers in Hungary and was re-elected in 2015.
On 1 November 2015 the Holy Father appointed him as apostolic administrator sede vacante of the eparchy of Nyìregyháza, without episcopal character, but with the right to participate in the Council of Hierarchs.
