WASHINGTON (March 1, 2011)—Pope Benedict XVI has accepted the resignation of Cardinal Roger M. Mahony from the pastoral governance of the Archdiocese of Los Angeles. The cardinal presented his resignation upon having reached the age of 75. He is succeeded by Archbishop José H. Gomez, 59, until now coadjutor archbishop of the same see.
Archbishop Pietro Sambi, Apostolic Nuncio to the United States, publicized the announcement March 1, in Washington.
Cardinal Mahony was appointed Archbishop of Los Angeles by Pope John Paul II on July 16, 1985. He was installed as the fourth archbishop of Los Angeles on September 5, 1985. Shortly after his appointment, he created five pastoral regions to better minister to the needs of Catholics in the massive archdiocese. He also built the new Cathedral of Our Lady of the Angels to replace earthquake-damaged former St. Vibiana’s Cathedral. Pope John Paul II made him a cardinal on June 28, 1991. Prior to his assignment to the Archdiocese of Los Angeles, Cardinal Mahony served as Auxiliary Bishop of Fresno (1975-1980) and Bishop of Stockton (1980-1985).
Pope Benedict XVI named Archbishop José H. Gomez, Coadjutor Archbishop of Los Angeles on April 6, 2010. Pope John Paul II appointed him Archbishop of San Antonio on December 29, 2004. Prior to that, he served as Auxiliary Bishop of Denver (2001-2004).
The Los Angeles Archdiocese, the largest Roman Catholic diocese in the United States, includes 8,762 square miles. It has a population of 11,606,889 with 4,176,296, or 36 percent, of them Catholic.
IMAGE SOURCE: http://coadjutor.la-archdiocese.org/Pages/default.aspx
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