Pope Francis transferred Vincent Nguyên Van Ban, currently Bishop of Ban Mê Thuôt, as the new prelate of the Diocese of Hai Phòng in Viêt Nam.
However, he will continue as the Apostolic Administrator of Ban Mê Thuôt until a further arrangement is made.
The announcement was made in Rome on March 19, according to Fides news agency.
The Diocese of Hai Phòng is located in northeastern Vietnam. Hai Phòng is a port city, across from Cat Ba Island.
For Bishop Van Ban, Hai Phong is not a strange land, because he has visited the diocese many times. Moreover, his parents were born in the same diocese.
After the news was announced, Bishop Van Ban said that he accepts the transfer made by Pope Francis “with much joy and hope.”
"May the priests of work together fervently for the unity and advancement of the Hai Phong Diocese,” the 65-year-old bishop hoped.
He was born on Nov 25, 1956, at Tuy Hoa in Viet Nam and was ordained a priest on Sept 16, 1993. He was appointed the bishop of Ban Me Thuot on February 21, 2009.
He will take over the responsibility of the diocese of Hai Phong on March 31.
The inaugural Mass will be held at 9:00 a.m. at Hai Phong Cathedral, according to sources.
In the beginning, it (Hai Phong) was created as the Vicariate Apostolic of Eastern Tonking (Tonkino Orientale) on July 24, 1678. After 246 years, its name was changed to Vicariate Apostolic of Hai Phòng on December 3, 1924. Finally, it was elevated to a diocese on November 24, 1960, according to Vatican sources.
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