SPOKANE, Washington, JUNE 30, 2010 (Zenit.org).- Benedict XVI named Bishop Blase Cupich, 61, of Rapid City, South Dakota, to head the Diocese of Spokane.
The Vatican announced today that the prelate will succeed Bishop William Skylstad, 76, whose resignation was accepted by the Pope.
Blase Cupich was born in Omaha, Nebraska, and was ordained a priest for that diocese in 1975. In 1998 he was appointed and ordained bishop of Rapid City.
The Spokane Diocese has some 101,700 Catholics served by 152 priests, 55 permanent deacons and 303 religious.
Boston
Also today, the Pontiff appointed two auxiliaries for the Archdiocese of Boston: Father Arthur Kennedy, rector of St. John Seminary, and Father Peter Uglietto, rector of Blessed John XXIII National Seminary in Weston, Massachusetts.
Both Bishop-elect Kennedy, 68, and Bishop-elect Uglietto, 58, have been a part of the Boston Archdiocese since their respective ordinations in 1966 and 1977.
The archbishop of Boston, Cardinal Sean O’Malley, acknowledged in a press conference today that the appointments reflect the Pontiff’s recognition of the size of the archdiocese and “the important ministry we provide every day.”
He expressed his gratitude to the newly appointed bishops “for their willingness to accept the Holy Father’s call to serve.”
The archdiocese, which has some 1.9 million Catholics, has three other acting auxiliaries after Benedict XVI today accepted the resignation of Bishop Emilio Allué, 75, who reached the age of retirement.
Bishop Allué has been serving as an auxiliary in Boston since 1996.
Hartford
Auxiliary Bishop Peter Rosazza, 75, of Hartford, Connecticut, also received word today that the Pope accepted his resignation.
He had been serving in that capacity in the Harford Archdiocese since 1978.
The archdiocese, which is headed by Archbishop Henry Mansell, has some 686,231 Catholics, 455 priests, 287 permanent deacons and 1,059 religious.
Other appointments
The Pontiff also named Archbishop Celestino Migliore, permanent observer of the Holy See at the United Nations in New York, as apostolic nuncio to Poland.
The 58-year-old prelate succeeds Archbishop Jozef Kowalczyk, 71, who was appointed to head the Archdiocese of Gniezno, Poland, in May.
In Rome, Salesian Father Enrico dal Covolo, professor of ancient Christian literature at the Pontifical Salesian University and ordinary member of the Pontifical Academy of Theology, was named rector of the Pontifical Lateran University.
The Salesian was chosen to preach Benedict XVI’s annual spiritual exercises last February.
The Vatican announced that the Pope also appointed Father John Cihak as a member of the pontifical ceremonial staff. He will assist Father Guido Marini, master of papal liturgical ceremonies.
Originally from Oregon, Father Cihak has been serving most recently in Rome as the confessor of postulants for the Missionaries of Charity.
