The Holy Father has appointed Fr. Pedro Baquero, S.D.B., as bishop of Kerema (area 34,000, population 160,000, Catholics 26,200, priests 11, religious 24), Papua New Guinea. The bishop-elect was born in Manila, Philippines in 1970 and was ordained a priest in 1999. He studied philosophy in the Don Bosco College in Canlubang, Laguna, and theology in the Don Bosco Study Centre in Paranaque, Manila. He has served in a number of pastoral roles, including parish priest in Lariau, Kerema; advisor to the Salesian Community in Lariau; director of the Salesian School in Lariau; parish priest in Araimiri, Kerema; director of the Salesian School in Araimiri; director of the Gabutu Technical School, Port Moresby; and superior delegate of the Salesians in Papua New Guinea and the Solomon Islands. He is currently vice-provincial of the Salesian Province of Papua New Guinea and the Solomon Islands.