ASIA/MYANMAR - Erection of the Diocese of Hpa-An, first Bishop appointed

Vatican City (Agenzia Fides) – The Holy Father Benedict XVI, on January 24, 2009, erected the Diocese of Hpa-An (Myanmar), with territory taken from the Archdiocese of Yangon, making it a suffragan of the same Metropolitan See. The Holy Father appointed Bishop Justin Saw Min Thide, Titular Bishop of Lemfocta and Auxiliary Bishop of the Archdiocese of Yango, Bishop of Hpa-An. The new Diocese of Hpa-An includes nearly the entire state of Kayin and half of the state of Mon, and is a suffragan of the Archdiocese of Yangon. The parish church in Hpa-An named after St. Francis Xavier will become the Cathedral for the new diocese. (SL) (Agenzia Fides 26/1/2009)