Cardinal Justin Rigali will hold a news conference this morning to announce that Pope Benedict XVI has named Archbishop Charles J. Chaput O.F.M., Cap. the 13th Bishop and ninth Archbishop of Philadelphia. Archbishop Chaput will be installed on Thursday, Sept. 8, the feast of the birth of the Blessed Virgin Mary, in the Cathedral Basilica of SS. Peter and Paul at 2 p.m. The Holy Father has also appointed Cardinal Rigali as Apostolic Administrator with all of the responsibilities of Archbishop until the installation of Archbishop Chaput.
Archbishop Chaput, who is 66, is a member of the Order of Friars Minor, Capuchin. He was ordained a priest in 1970 and became a bishop at the age of 43. At that time he became the Bishop of Rapid City, S. D. Since 1997 he has served as Archbishop of Denver. A member of the Prairie Band Potawatomi Tribe, Archbishop Chaput is the second Native American to be ordained a Bishop in the United States and the first Native American Archbishop.
Following the news conference at 10 a.m., Cardinal Rigali will be the main celebrant and homilist for a 12:05 p.m.Mass concelebrated by Archbishop Chaput as well as Auxiliary Bishops and priests of the Archdiocese. The news conference and the Mass will be streamed live on the Archdiocesan web site at www.archphila.org.
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