Cincinnati receives new archbishop from Pope

Cincinnati, Ohio, Dec 21, 2009 / 13:28 pm

The Archdiocese of Cincinnati welcomed the appointment of its new Archbishop on Monday. Pope Benedict XVI accepted the resignation of Archbishop Daniel E. Pilarczyk and appointed the coadjutor archbishop of the same diocese, Monsignor Dennis M. Schnurr, to succeed him.

In a press release issued by the Archdiocese of Cincinnati, Schnurr said of the appointment, “One year ago, when Pope Benedict XVI appointed me coadjutor archbishop of Cincinnati, I was humbled and honored. Today, after having had the opportunity to visit so many of our parishes, schools, and other institutions over the past months, I feel even more grateful and privileged. The welcome has been overwhelming, and I look forward to working with our priests, deacons, religious and lay people in building upon the solid foundation of faith that is so evident in our communities.”

Archbishop Schnurr has held a number of distinguished positions within the Church, according to the archdiocesan website. Among other roles, he has served as an advisor to the papal nuncio to the United States in Washington D.C., as the National Executive Director of World Youth Day, organizing World Denver, and as the General Secretary of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops.

Schnurr is now the 10th presiding bishop of the Archdiocese of Cincinnati since it was founded in 1821. His predecessor had been one of the longest serving bishops in the U.S., heading the archdiocese for the previous 27 years.

Archbishop Pilarczyk, referring to Schnurr's appointment stated that Cincinnati “is blessed to be getting such a skilled, dedicated and spiritual pastor.” "May he flourish," added the exiting Archbishop.