New Archbishops for Baltimore, Montreal

Pope Benedict XVI today nominated Bishop William Lori, formerly bishop of Bridgeport, Connecticut, as Archbishop of Baltimore. Bishop Lori is the current head of the U.S. Bishops’ Ad hoc Committee for Religious Liberty. Baltimore was the first diocese established in the United States, and its archbishop holds “prerogative of place” amongst the bishops of that country.

At a press conference after the announcement, Bishop Lori spoke about his feelings about the appointment: "My first thought is gratitude to the Lord, to the Lord Jesus: the Lord Jesus, the Good Shepherd, the One Who shepherds His people in love and in truth. And so it is to the Lord that my heart, my thoughts first turn. And secondly, I would like to express my gratitude, profound gratitude, to Pope Benedict XVI, who has entrusted me with the stewardship of this great and historic Archdiocese of Baltimore.”

North of the border, in Canada, the nation’s largest French-speaking Archdiocese received a new Archbishop, following the resignation of Cardinal Jean-Claude Turcotte. Archbishop Christian Lépine succeeds the Cardinal as Archbishop of Montreal.

Two other American dioceses also received new bishops today: Monsignor David Malloy was named the new bishop of Rockford, Illinois, following the resignation of Bishop Thomas Doran; and Father Gregory Parkes was named the new bishop of Pensacola and Tallahassee in Florida.

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