Resignation of bishop of Helsinki, Finland

Resignation of bishop of Chur, Switzerland, and appointment of apostolic administrator

Appointment of auxiliary bishop of Cuenca, Ecuador

Resignation of bishop of Helsinki, Finland

The Holy Father has accepted the resignation from the pastoral care of the diocese of Helsinki, Finland, presented by H.E. Msgr. Teemu Sippo.

Resignation of bishop of Chur, Switzerland, and appointment of apostolic administrator

The Holy Father has accepted the resignation of H.E. Msgr. Vitus Huonder from the office of bishop of Chur, Switzerland.

The Pope has appointed as apostolic administrator sede vacante et ad nutum Sanctae Sedis of the diocese of Chur, Switzerland, H.E. Msgr. Peter Bürcher, bishop emeritus of Reykjavik.

Appointment of auxiliary bishop of Cuenca, Ecuador

The Holy Father has appointed as auxiliary of Cuenca, Ecuador, the Rev. José Bolivar Piedra Aguirre, of the clergy of the same archdiocese, assigning him the titular see of Maronana.

The bishop-elect was born in Nabón, archdiocese of Cuenca, in 1965. He holds a doctorate in theology from the San Vicente Ferrer Faculty of Valencia, Spain. He was ordained a priest for the archdiocese of Cuenca in 1990.

Since ordination he has held a number of pastoral roles, including parish priest of various parishes, vicar of urban pastoral ministry and coordinator of priestly pastoral ministry, and diocesan administrator sede vacante of the archdiocese of Cuenca. He is currently vicar general and vicar for pastoral care, member of the college of consultors, presbyteral council and council for economic affairs, and professor at the major seminary.