LVIV, Ukraine, JULY 16, 2007 (Zenit.org).- Benedict XVI appointed his assistant personal secretary as the Latin-rite coadjutor bishop of Lviv, Monsignor Mieczyslaw Mokrzycki.
Bishop-designate Mokrzycki, 46, stands to succeed Cardinal Marian Jaworski, who will turn 81 next month. The Vatican press office announced the appointment today.
No official Vatican announcement has been made as to who will fill the vacant post in the Pope's secretariat.
Mieczyslaw Mokrzycki was born in Poland in 1961 and ordained a priest in 1987 by then Archbishop Jaworski. The young priest served as a personal secretary to the archbishop until he was called to Rome.
Monsignor Mokrzycki served from 1996 to 2005 as assistant private secretary to Pope John Paul II, and was present at the Pontiff's death. The secretary returned to his post after the election of Benedict XVI.
The Latin-rite Archdiocese of Lviv has some 150,000 Catholics, served by 138 priests, 213 religious and one permanent deacon.
ZE07071604 - 2007-07-16