Vatican City, Apr 26, 2016 / 04:50 am
On Tuesday the Vatican announced that Auxiliary Bishop Edward M. Rice of St. Louis has been tapped by Pope Francis to take charge of the Springfield-Cape Girardeau diocese.
It is an appointment that moved Bishop Rice, who said in an April 26 press release that "I am humbled by the confidence of the Holy Father and I am grateful for his support in appointing me the seventh Bishop of the Diocese of Springfield-Cape Girardeau."
He extended to Pope Francis "the prayers and love" of Springfield-Cape Girardeau's clergy, religious and laity, and voiced his excitement to work alongside his fellow priests in "spreading the beauty of our Catholic Faith in the spirit of the New Evangelization" in his new role.
Bishop Rice said he leaves Archdiocese of St. Louis, headed by Archbishop Robert Carlson, with "a grateful heart" after having spent 29 years there as a priest and nine as an auxiliary bishop.