WASHINGTON (March 10, 2003) -- Pope John Paul II accepted the resignation of Bishop Daniel A. Hart of Norwich, Connecticut, and appointed Most Reverend Michael R. Cote, Auxiliary Bishop of Portland in Maine, as his successor.

Archbishop Gabriel Montalvo, Apostolic Nuncio to the United States, made the announcement.

Michael R. Cote was born June 19, 1949, in Sanford, Maine. He studied at St. Mary"s Seminary, Baltimore, the Gregorian University, Rome, and the Catholic University of America where he earned the J.C.L. degree. He was ordained a priest of the Diocese of Portland in Maine on June 29, 1975.

Bishop Cote was appointed Titular Bishop of Cebarades and Auxiliary Bishop of Portland in Maine on July 27, 1995.

Daniel A. Hart was born in Lawrence, Massachusetts, August 24, 1927. He studied at Boston College, St. John"s Seminary, Brighton, and Boston State, and was ordained a priest of the Archdiocese of Boston on February 2, 1953.

Appointed Titular Bishop of Tepelta and Auxiliary Bishop of Boston August 30, 1976, he was named Bishop of Norwich on September 12, 1995.

The Diocese of Norwich was established in 1953. It has a Catholic population of about 225,000 in a total population of approximately 633,000.

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