Archbishop Joseph E. Kurtz of Louisville, Kentucky, president of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops, congratulated Greg Burke, the new director of the Holy See Press Office, and Paloma García Ovejero, the new vice director. He also extended his gratitude to Father Federico Lombardi who is retiring from the post after 10 years of service.
The appointment was publicized July 11.
Greg Burke was born in St. Louis in 1960. After a career in journalism in the States and in Rome, in 2012, he was asked to join the Vatican’s communications team.
Here is Archbishop Kurtz’s full statement:
On this the 10th anniversary of Father Federico Lombardi’s appointment as director of the Holy See Press Office, I am filled with gratitude for his loyal and effective service to the Holy Father. Father Lombardi helped spread the Gospel throughout the world across two pontificates. I was especially grateful to have learned not only from his media expertise but also his deep love for the Church during the six days we spent together as Pope Francis visited the United States.
I learned of Greg Burke’s appointment as the next director of the Holy See Press Office with tremendous gratitude. He is long known to us in the United States as a devoted man of the Church and an unparalleled communicator. From the Vatican’s Secretariat of State to the Holy See Press Office, Greg has proven himself in service to the universal Church.
I also congratulate Paloma García Ovejero on her appointment as the new Vice Director, the positon previously held by Greg. She is an accomplished journalist from Madrid and will be the first woman to hold the position of Vice Director.
Please join me in offering prayers for Fr. Lombardi, Greg, Paloma, and their calling to share the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ with all in need of hearing the Good News.
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