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(Sitten) Pope Francis has appointed the 64 year old Jean-Marie Lovey, as successor of Bishop Norbert Brunner at the head of the Swiss Diocese of Sitten. Lovey was previously Provost of the Augustinian Canons Regular Friary at Great St. Bernard. Since the Canton of Valais consists of German-speaking Upper Valais and French-speaking Lower Valais, the management of the diocese goes to the Upper Valais Norbert Brunner, which now have French-speaking prelates. Bishop Brunner has headed the diocese since 1995 in the canton of Valais. The [Old Liberal} chairman of the Swiss Bishops' Conference, Bishop Markus Büchel of Sankt Gallen, was delighted with the appointment of Provost Lovey is "in the spirit of renewal of the Church," which was begun by Pope Francis. For nearly 1,000 years the Augustinian Canons have been active in Great St. Bernard. There, in the Lower Valais at 2,475 meters above sea level, they built a hospice for pilgrims and travelers. For 200 years they also supervise the situated at 2,000 meters above sea level a hospice on the Simplon Pass in the Upper Valais. The dog bred by the canons for mountain rescue, the St. Bernard, is world famous.
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