WASHINGTON (July 25, 2003) — Pope John Paul II accepted the resignation of Bishop James C. Timlin of Scranton and appointed Philadelphia Auxiliary Bishop Joseph F. Martino as his successor.

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

Joseph F. Martino was born in Philadelphia, May 1, 1946. He studied at the North American College in Rome and earned the S.T.L. degree at the Gregorian University there.

Ordained a priest of the Philadelphia archdiocese, December 18, 1970, he was named Titular Bishop of Cellae in Mauretania and Auxiliary Bishop of Philadelphia, January 24, 1996.

James C. Timlin was born in Scranton, August 5, 1927. He studied at St. Mary's College and at the Gregorian University in Rome, where he obtained the S.T.B. degree.

Ordained a priest of the Scranton diocese on July 16, 1951, he was appointed Titular Bishop of Gunugo and Auxiliary Bishop of Scranton July 26, 1976. Bishop Timlin was named Bishop of Scranton on April 11, 1984.

The diocese of Scranton, established in 1868, comprises 11 counties in Northeastern Pennsylvania. It has a Catholic population of 355,422 in a total population of over one million.

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