The pope has announced the appointment of two bishops to fill vacant posts in Vietnam’s Da Lat diocese. Pope Benedict X VI yesterday named Bishop Antoine Vu Huy Chuong from Hung Hoa diocese in northwest Vietnam as bishop of Da Lat, which is in the Central Highlands. Bishop Chuong, 66, has served Hung Hoa diocese since 2003. The position in Da Lat diocese has been vacant since Bishop Pierre Nguyen Van Nhon was named coadjutor archbishop of Ha Noi archdiocese on April 22, 2010. The pope also yesterday named Auxiliary Bishop Jean Marie Vu Tat of Hung Hoa as bishop of the same diocese. Bishop Tat, 67, served as vice rector of St Joseph Major Seminary in Ha Noi before he was ordained auxiliary bishop on June 15, 2010. According to 2009 figures, Da Lat diocese which covers Lam Dong province, has 336,204 Catholics in 70 parishes served by 208 priests, 1,035 Religious, 67 seminarians and 2,690 catechists. VT13476.1643
