New U.S. Melkite bishop named

Published: 2004-06-22

WASHINGTON (CNS) -- Pope John Paul II has accepted the resignation of U.S. Melkite Bishop John A. Elya of Newton, Mass., and appointed Archbishop Cyrille Salim Bustros of Baalbek, Lebanon, to succeed him. The changes were announced in Washington June 22 by Archbishop Gabriel Montalvo, papal nuncio to the United States. The Newton Diocese is responsible for the pastoral care of nearly 30,000 Melkite Catholics across the United States. Archbishop Bustros, 65, is a member of the Society of the Missionaries of St. Paul. Born Jan. 26, 1939, in Ain-Bourday, Lebanon, he was ordained a priest June 29, 1962, and named archbishop of Baalbek in 1988. He was ordained a bishop Nov. 27, 1988.

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