Pope Francis accepts the resignation of Archbishop Roger Schwietz of Anchorage, Alaska, and appointed Bishop Paul Etienne of Cheyenne, Wyoming, to be his successor.
Pope Francis also accepted the resignation of Bishop Paul Loverde of Arlington, Virginia, and named as his successor Bishop Michael Burbidge of Raleigh, North Carolina.
The changes were announced October 4 in Washington by Mgr Walter Erbi, the charge d'affaires at the apostolic nunciature to the United States.
Both Archbishop Schwietz and Bishop Loverde are 76. Canon law requires bishops to submit their resignation to the Pope at the age of 75.
Archbishop Schwietz has headed the Archdiocese of Anchorage since 2001. Bishop Loverde has headed the Arlington Diocese since 1999.
More to come
