Related articles:• Archbishop-designate Listecki: ‘an instrument of God’s presence’ |
|
MADISON — On November 14, Pope Benedict XVI named Bishop Jerome Listecki as Archbishop of Milwaukee.
Upon learning of the pope’s announcement, Bishop Robert C. Morlino of Madison offered the following comments:
“Archbishop Listecki and I have known each other since I was appointed bishop in 1999. His upbeat style and sense of humor make him a natural friend. Since his arrival in LaCrosse, his strong competence in Civil Law, Canon Law, and Moral Theology have served us very well in all the Dioceses of Wisconsin, through the Wisconsin Catholic Conference and our ecclesiastical provincial meetings.
“As we go forward, we all will come more to know and respect Archbishop Listecki’s pastoral vision. On behalf of all of us in south-central Wisconsin, I promise him our prayers and loyal collaboration as he becomes the Archbishop of Milwaukee.”
The other bishops of Madison, Bishop William H. Bullock, bishop emeritus, and Bishop George O. Wirz, retired auxiliary bishop, offered these comments:
“We rejoice with all the people of the Archdiocese of Milwaukee with the appointment of a new archbishop, Jerome Listecki,” Bishop Bullock said. “His professional and religious preparation as the metropolitan archbishop is well known. From his days as a professor of moral theology at Mundelein Seminary, where he taught many of our priests of the Diocese of Madison, to his great shepherding ways with the priests, religious, deacons, and people of La Crosse, he has always been simply himself. I offer my sincere congratulations, prayers, and pledge of cooperation to him. We join the priests and people of the La Crosse Diocese in prayer as they await the appointment of a new bishop of La Crosse.”
“God has amply blessed the Archdiocese of Milwaukee since its founding in 1843,” Bishop Wirz said. “The Diocese of La Crosse was established already in 1868. This growth of the Church has preceded and paralleled the development of the State of Wisconsin itself. Through the infinite plan and grace of God, Wisconsin once again has a new chief shepherd who worthily leads all God’s people to our destiny.”