ORLANDO, Florida, OCT. 25, 2010 (Zenit.org).- Benedict XVI appointed of Auxiliary Bishop John Noonan of Miami as bishop of Orlando, Florida.
It was announced Saturday that Bishop Noonan, 59, will succeed Archbishop Thomas Wenski, 60, who was named to the Miami Archdiocese last April.
The newly appointed bishop of Orlando, upon hearing of his appointment, noted that «Vatican II calls bishops to be fathers and pastors to the people.»
«I pray that with God’s help I will be able to be a good father and pastor as bishop of the Diocese of Orlando,» he added.
Archbishop Wenski affirmed, «The Holy Father has chosen for the Diocese of Orlando an energetic shepherd who brings to the priests and people of Central Florida many talents and gifts.»
Born in Limerick, Ireland, John Noonan was ordained a priest for the Miami Archdiocese in 1983. He received his episcopal ordination in 2005, the year that he was appointed auxiliary bishop.
The Orlando Diocese has some 400,923 Catholics served by 253 priests, 172 permanent deacons and 181 religious.
Economic council
Also on Saturday, Benedict XVI appointed two new members to the Council of Cardinals for the Study of the Organizational and Economic Problems of the Holy See.
A Vatican communiqué announced Saturday that the Pope named Cardinal Norberto Rivera Carrera, archbishop of Mexico City, and Cardinal Francis George, archbishop of Chicago, to this council that aids in the economic management of the Vatican.
The council is presided over by Cardinal Tarcisio Bertone, the Pontiff’s secretary of state.
