Benedict XVI appointed Auxiliary Bishop Rémy Victor Vancottem of the Archdiocese of Mechelen-Brussels as bishop of Namur. A Vatican communiqué announced Monday that Bishop Vancottem, 66, will succeed Archbishop André-Joseph Léonard, who was appointed to head the Mechelen-Brussels Archdiocese in January.
Born in Tubize, Belgium, Rémy Victor Vancottem was ordained a priest in 1969.
The Diocese of Namur has some 556,000 Catholics served by 726 priests, 63 permanent deacons, and 1,367 religious.
GermanyBenedict XVI also accepted the resignation of Auxiliary Bishop Heinrich Janssen, 77, of the Diocese of Munster, Germany, the Vatican communiqué reported.
The Pope appointed three more auxiliary bishops from the priests of that diocese.
These newly appointed auxiliaries include: Father Dieter Geerlings, 63, president of the diocesan chapter of Caritas and canon of the cathedral chapter; Father Christoph Hegge, 48, pro vicar general, head of the office for consecrated life and canon of the cathedral chapter; and Father Wilfried Theising, 47, provost and dean in Borken.
The Diocese of Munster has 2,007,335 Catholics, 1,165 priests, 270 permanent deacons, and 2,827 religious.
SIC: CathNet