The Diocese of Melbourne and its Dependencies in Australia issued a statement yesterday, Wednesday, August 12, announcing the appointment of His Grace Bishop Rois as Papal Deputy of the Diocese of Melbourne and its Dependencies. He has been granted full pastoral, administrative, and financial authority over all diocesan churches and their attachments, and his service in East Asia (Indonesia and the Philippines) has been transferred to the general evangelism service under the supervision of Archpriest Dawood Lami. This appointment was made by Papal Decree No. 2 of 2026, effective from August 1, 2026. The decision of His Holiness Pope Tawadros II, Pope of Alexandria and Patriarch of the See of St. Mark, was warmly welcomed by the people and priests of the diocese. The statement added that the decision will assist Bishop Rois in continuing the work he began on July 1, 2025, faithfully tending to the diocese’s administrative, pastoral, and spiritual affairs, and will strengthen his ability to carry out this blessed ministry.The diocese expressed its thanks and appreciation to His Holiness Pope Tawadros II for his ongoing care for the diocese and for the fatherly love with which he embraces and continually supports his children. It invited the diocesan community to celebrate the occasion at the Family Festival on Saturday, September 12, 2026, to be held at the diocesan headquarters.The statement concluded with prayers for His Grace Bishop Rois, asking that God strengthen and guide him, grant him wisdom, grace, and good health to fulfill his service and responsibilities for the growth and spiritual building of the diocese; that God preserve the life and ministry of His Holiness Pope Tawadros II for many years of peace and blessing; and that He bless Bishop Rois’s ministry for the glory of His holy name.