Resignation of bishop of Ahiara, Nigeria, and appointment of Apostolic Administrator sede vacante ed at nutum Sanctae Sedis

Resignation of auxiliary bishop of Freiburg im Breisgau, Germany, and appointment of new auxiliary

Resignation of bishop of Ahiara, Nigeria, and appointment of Apostolic Administrator sede vacante ed at nutum Sanctae Sedis

The Holy Father has accepted the resignation from the pastoral care of the diocese of Ahiara, Nigeria, presented by H.E. Msgr. Peter Ebere Okpaleke, and at the same time has appointed as apostolic administrator sede vacante et ad nutum Sanctae Sedis of the same diocese H.E. Msgr. Lucius Iwejuru Ugorji, bishop of Umuahia.

Resignation of auxiliary bishop of Freiburg im Breisgau, Germany, and appointment of new auxiliary

The Holy Father has accepted the resignation of H.E. Mgsr. Bernd Joachim Uhl from the office of auxiliary of the archdiocese of Freiburg im Breisgau, Germany.

The Pope has appointed as auxiliary bishop of the archdiocese of Freiburg im Breisgau, Germany, the Rev. Fr. Peter Birkhofer, of the clergy of the same archdiocese, currently director of the diocesan Office for Missions, the Liturgy, Ecumenism and Interreligious Dialogue, as well as canon of the Metropolitan Chapter, assigning him the titular episcopal see of Villamagna di Tripolitania.

Rev. Fr. Peter Birkhofer

The Rev. Fr. Peter Birkhofer was born on 11 June 1964 in Immenstaad am Bodensee, in the archdiocese of Freiburg im Breisgau.

He carried out his philosophical and theological studies in Freiburg.

He was ordained a priest on 11 May 1991 and incardinated in the archdiocese of Freiburg.

He subsequently continued his academic formation, obtaining a doctorate in theology from the University of Freiburg.

From 1993 to 1994 he was deputy pastor in the deanery of Hechingen-Hoherzollern.

Since 1995 he has served as high school chaplain and rector of the vocational centre of the German Episcopal Conference in Freiburg.

In 2003 he became deputy pastor and master of ceremonies in the Cathedral and administrator of the dome works. Since 2010, finally, he has served as canon of the Metropolitan Chapter and director of the diocesan Office for Missions, the Liturgy, Ecumenism and Interreligious Dialogue. He is also president of the Arbeitskreis Christlicher Kirchen ecumenical circle of Baden-Württemberg.