New Leader for Seminarians, Area Catholics

At a news conference Tuesday morning, Cardinal Justin Rigali officially announced his resignation and Pope Benedict XVI named Archbishop Charles Chaput the 13th bishop and ninth archbishop of Philadelphia.

Chaput will be installed Sept. 8, the feast of the Blessed Virgin Mary, in the Cathedral Basilica of Saints Peter and Paul, a statement from the Archdiocese of Philadelphia stated.

Chaput, who is 66, is a member of the Order of Friars Minor, Capuchin, the archdiocese stated. He was ordained a priest in 1970 and became a bishop at 43. At that time he became the Bishop of Rapid City, South Dakota. Since 1997 he has served as Archbishop of Denver. A member of the Prairie Band Potowatami Tribe, Archbishop Chaput is the second Native American to be ordained a Bishop in the United States and the first Native American Archbishop.

Until his installment, Rigali will maintain responsibility of the archdiocese.

“My thoughts and prayers go out to Cardinal Rigali as he makes this transition in his life,” Philadelphia District Attorney Seth Williams said in a release. “I respect the Cardinal very much and recognize the positive impact he has made in this history of the Archdiocese of Philadelphia. He came into a very difficult situation and I think he tried to do what he thought was best for the church.”

Although Williams did not comment on the findings of the grand jurors, he stated that Rigali’s response to their report was constructive.

“Rather than attacking the messengers, he listened to their criticisms. I understand that he has initiated changes that should help to protect Philadelphia’s children and better serve victims going forward,” he continued. “I commend him for promptly removing over 20 priests with outstand allegations if improper relations with minors after the latest Grand Jury investigation. I hope that Archbishop Chaput follows through on these initiatives and I look forward to working with him in the future.”