WASHINGTON (February 10, 2004) -- Pope John Paul II has accepted the resignation of Bishop Joseph J. Gerry, OSB, of Portland, Maine, and appointed Auxiliary Bishop Richard J. Malone of Boston as his successor.

The Pope also accepted the resignation of Auxiliary Bishop George Wirz of Madison, Wisconsin.

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

Richard J. Malone was born in Salem, MA, March 19, 1946. He attended St. John's Seminary School of Theology in Brighton, Boston University, and the Weston Jesuit School of Theology. Ordained a priest of the Boston archdiocese, May 20, 1972, he was appointed Titular Bishop of Aptuca and Auxiliary Bishop of Boston, January 27, 2000.

Joseph J. Gerry was born in Millinocket, Maine, on September 12, 1928. He studied at St. Anselm College and St. Anselm Abbey in Manchester, New Hampshire, the University of Toronto, and Fordham University, and was ordained a priest on June 12, 1954. Named Titular Bishop of Praecausa and Auxiliary Bishop of Manchester, February 4, 1986, he was appointed Bishop of Portland in Maine, December 27, 1988.

George O. Wirz was born in Monroe, Wisconsin, January 17, 1929. He studied at St. Francis Seminary, Marquette University, Milwaukee, and the Catholic University, and was ordained a priest of the Madison Diocese on May 31, 1952. He was appointed Titular Bishop of Municipa and Auxiliary Bishop of Madison, December 20, 1977.

Established in 1853, the Diocese of Portland comprises the State of Maine. It has a Catholic population of about 218,000 in a total population of approximately 1.3 million.

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