With gratitude to our Holy Father, Pope Benedict XVI, I welcome Archbishop William Lori as the new shepherd of this historic Archdiocese of Baltimore.
I have known Bishop Lori for many years and have been impressed by his deep love of the Church and her people, and by his extraordinary work both as Bishop of Bridgeport and as a valued leader on behalf of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops.
Bishop Lori has ably pastored the priests and faithful of Bridgeport and has solidified the foundation of that local Church in many key areas, most especially Catholic education, evangelization, and priestly vocations.
His outstanding administrative abilities have enabled him to serve the wider Church through his leadership in several areas, including marriage, religious liberty and the protection of children. Bishop Lori has been an outspoken advocate for religious freedom and for the preservation of marriage between one man and one woman. As a member of the U.S. Bishops’ Ad Hoc Committee on Sexual Abuse, Bishop Lori was instrumental in drafting the Charter for the Protection of Children & Young People, a landmark document that still guides our Church’s efforts to protect the children in our care, hold abusers accountable and promote healing for victims.
This Archdiocese has been blessed with many outstanding leaders through the years and our Holy Father has continued this tradition with the naming of Bishop Lori as the 16th Archbishop of the Premier See. He assumes the helm of this Archdiocese with the support of many dedicated clergy, religious and lay faithful, as well as the prayers and encouragement of me, his predecessor. I look forward to watching as his God-given talents and gentle nature bear much fruit for the glory of God and the benefit of His people in this holy Church of Baltimore.