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Brian Finnigan, an auxiliary bishop of Brisbane, Australia, has been named the apostolic administrator of Toowoomba diocese, according to a statement on the the Toowoomba diocese's web site.
Here is Finnigan's statment:
"In recent days I have been asked by Pope Benedict XVI ... to be the Apostolic Administrator of the Diocese of Toowoomba. I accepted this request to ensure that the Pope's concern for the ongoing pastoral care of the Diocese could be fulfilled. I am grateful for the generous and kind welcome of Bishop Bill Morris who has confidence that the dedication of the priests, religious and other leaders of agencies, etc. will continue and will be supportive of my role."
Read Bishop Finnigan's full letter.
To answer a reader's question: "When the pope names a priest or bishop to administer a vacant diocese or archdiocese until a new residential bishop takes office, that administrator is called an apostolic administrator because he holds the post by papal appointment." (source: CNS Stylebook on Religion: Reference Guide and Usage Manual, third edition.)
