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Resignations and Appointments, 17.12.2021

Appointment of Holy See Permanent Observer to the United Nations and Specialised Institutions in Geneva and at the World Trade Organisation (WTO) and Holy See Representative at the International Organisation for Migration (IOM)

Resignation and appointment of bishop of Auckland, New Zealand

Appointment of coadjutor bishop of the diocese of Mariannhill, South Africa

Appointment of administrative delegate to the Congregation for the Evangelisation of Peoples

 

Appointment of Holy See Permanent Observer to the United Nations and Specialised Institutions in Geneva and at the World Trade Organisation (WTO) and Holy See Representative at the International Organisation for Migration (IOM)

The Holy Father has appointed Archbishop Fortunatus Nwachukwu, titular of Acquaviva and until now apostolic nuncio in Trinidad and Tobago, Antigua and Barbuda, Bahamas, Barbados, Belize, Dominica, Jamaica, Grenada, the Cooperative Republic of Guyana, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Santa Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, and Suriname, and apostolic delegate in the Antilles; and Holy See Plenipotentiary Representative at the Caribbean Community (CARICOM), as Holy See Permanent Observer to the United Nations and Specialised Institutions in Geneva and at the World Trade Organisation (WTO) and Holy See Representative at the International Organisation for Migration (IOM).

 

Resignation and appointment of bishop of Auckland, New Zealand

The Holy Father has accepted the resignation from the pastoral care of the diocese of Auckland, New Zealand, presented by Bishop Patrick James Dunn.

The Holy Father has appointed Bishop Stephen Marmion Lowe of Hamilton, New Zealand, as bishop of the same diocese.

 

Appointment of coadjutor bishop of the diocese of Mariannhill, South Africa

The Holy Father has appointed as coadjutor bishop of the diocese of Mariannhill, South Africa, with special faculties, the Reverend Fr. Neil Augustine Frank, O.M.I., until now provincial superior of the Missionary Oblates of Mary Immaculate in South Africa.

Curriculum vitae

Msgr. Neil Augustine Frank, O.M.I., was born on 21 August 1966 in Pietermaritzburg, in the archdiocese of Durban. He received his Bachelor of Science (1988) and Master of Science in physics (1991) from the University of KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa. He completed his philosophical training at Saint Joseph's Scholasticate (1993-1995) and his theological training at the Pontifical Gregorian University, Rome (1995-1998).

He gave his perpetual vows as an Oblate of Mary Immaculate on 4 January 1998 and was ordained a priest on 21 August 1999.

He subsequently held the roles of parish vicar and parish priest in several parishes in the archdiocese of Durban (1999-2004), and then studied in Pune, India, for a Master's degree in philosophy (2004-2006). On his return to South Africa he served as pastor of two parishes, lecturer, head of the philosophy department (2006-2014) and president (2015-2018) at Saint Joseph's Theological Institute (2015-2018). From 2018 to date he has been provincial superior of the Missionary Oblates of Mary Immaculate in South Africa.

 

Appointment of administrative delegate to the Congregation for the Evangelisation of Peoples

Today the Holy Father Francis appointed Dr. Benjamín Estévez Cominges as administrative delegate to the Congregation for the Evangelisation of Peoples.