Vatican City, Dec 1, 2010 / 16:49 pm
Pope Benedict XVI oversaw changes to the U.S. episcopate on Dec. 1, including resignations in New Jersey and Missouri and two auxiliary bishops' appointments, all on the same day that the Archdiocese of Seattle celebrated its new archbishop's installation.
Having reached the age of 75, Bishop John M. Smith of Trenton, N.J. will pass on his position to the Bishop David M. O'Connell, who was appointed as a coadjutor.
Bishop O'Connell previously served as the President of the Catholic University of America in Washington, D.C. During his time there, he strongly advocated the implementation of Pope John Paul II's guidelines for Catholic education in the Apostolic Constitution “Ex Corde Ecclesiae.”
Pope Benedict also accepted the resignation of St. Louis' Auxiliary Bishop Robert J. Hermann, who had submitted his resignation at age 75, according to Vatican protocol.