Friday, January 14, 2011

Pope names new church leader on quake anniversary

Pope Benedict XVI has named a new archbishop for the Catholic church in Haiti on the first anniversary of the devastating earthquake that killed the bishop's predecessor along with dozens of other priests, seminarians and nuns. 

The Vatican said Wednesday that Monsignor Guire Poulard, bishop of Les Cayes, is the new archbishop of Port-au-Prince.

Archbishop Joseph Serge Miot was killed in the quake, which destroyed the national cathedral and seminary and damaged or destroyed 38 churches.

The pope also named an auxiliary bishop for Port-au-Prince, Monsignor Glandas Marie Erick Toussaint.

The Vatican's No. 2 official, Secretary of State Cardinal Tarcisio Bertone, led a special memorial Mass Wednesday afternoon in St. Mary Major Basilica in Rome.

SIC: WP/INT'L