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	Pope Benedict Appoints New Archbishop, Replaces Pius Ncube By Nancy Pasipanodya Zimbabwe Guardian June 20, 2009 http://www.talkzimbabwe.com/news/117/ARTICLE/4917/2009-06-20.html POPE BENEDICT XVI has appointed Indian Divine Word Missionary Alex Thomas Kaliyanil Archbishop of the Archdiocese of Bulawayo Zimbabwe, replacing disgraced Archbishop Pius Ncube who stepped down in 2007. The Archdiocese has been without a pastoral leader since Ncube's resignation. A fierce critic of President Robert Mugabe, Ncube was forced to step down after he was accused of having an affair and fathering a son with a Ms Rosemary Sibanda. The Archbishop elect, who was born in the Archeparchy of Changanacherry in India, has served as a missionary priest in Zimbabwe since 1987 when he was solemnly professed as a Divine Mercy Missionary. He was ordained a priest in 1988. Kaliyanil has also been the diocesan economist since 2005 and a councillor ex-officio to Caritas Zimbabwe. In 2008 Kaliyanil was appointed the regional superior for the Divine Word Missionaries in Zimbabwe. A number of candidates had been tipped to fill the position. St. Mary's Bulawayo Cathedral Administrator Martin Schupp, former Chishavasha Seminary Rector Antonio Santos Marizane, Hwange Bishop Albert Jose Serano and the chairman for the Bulawayo Provincial Congregation of Marian Hill missionaries Gibson Dube; were among those who were expected to fill the post. A notice was given last to all churches to clear all programmes for today (20 June) as they awaited the Pope's representative in Zimbabwe Apostle Muncio, his grace George Kocherry to arrive in Bulawayo and announce the appointment. "All denominations have been instructed to clear all programmes for the said date which we suspect is the day set to appoint a new arch bishop," said a source within the church last week. The Catholic Church in Zimbabwe is divided into two metropolitan provinces: Harare and Bulawayo, each with three suffragan Chinhoyi, Gokwe Mutare; and Gweru, Hwange and Masvingo, respectively. While there are many Bishops from the Syro-Malabar Church serving Latin dioceses in India, this will be a first for a Latin diocese in Africa.
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