Ordinariate gains its first bishop

Pope Francis has named Mgr Steven Lopes the first bishop of the ordinariate, which serves groups of former Anglicans living in full communion with the Catholic Church.

Bishop-designate Lopes, 40, succeeds Mgr Jeffrey Steenson, 63, who has led the ordinariate in the United States, called the Personal Ordinariate of the Chair of St Peter, since Benedict XVI established it in 2012. The Vatican announced the appointment and Mgr Steenson’s resignation at the same time.

Mgr Steenson said: “This is the happy outcome of much careful consultation with the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, to whom I first made this request almost a year ago. I welcome this news with all my heart, for the ordinariate has now progressed to the point where a bishop is much needed for our life and mission.”