San Francisco, Calif., Jul 27, 2012 / 09:54 am
Bishop Salvatore J. Cordileone of Oakland, Calif., the U.S. bishops' leader on defense of marriage issues, has been named by Pope Benedict XVI as the ninth Archbishop of San Francisco.
"I am pleased to welcome Archbishop-elect Cordileone and to assure him of our prayers, loyalty, support and cooperation, as well as our friendship and affection," said Archbishop George H. Niederauer, who offered his resignation as archbishop of San Francisco upon reaching the age limit of 75.
The appointment and resignation were both announced on July 27 in Washington, D.C. by Archbishop Carlo Maria Viganò, apostolic nuncio to the United States.
Known for his staunch defense of marriage as well as his intercultural ministry and work with immigrants in California, Archbishop Cordileone will shepherd a diocese that contains about 1,761,000 people, about 25 percent of whom are Catholic.