PITTSBURGH, Pennsylvania, JULY 18, 2007 (Zenit.org).- Benedict XVI appointed Bishop David Zubik to lead the Diocese of Pittsburgh. He will begin his new post in September.
Bishop Zubik's appointment ends the 14-month vacancy since Archbishop Donald Wuerl was appointed to the Archdiocese of Washington, D.C.
Bishop Zubik, 57, has led since 2003 the Diocese of Green Bay, Wisconsin, but he is a native of the Pittsburgh area.
"I was truly honored to serve the wonderful people of Green Bay," said Bishop Zubik. "Now Pittsburgh is my home again. I love the Church of Pittsburgh. I love the people of Pittsburgh. It is a wonderful Church -- very much alive in Christ."
David Zubik was born in 1949 and was ordained a priest in 1975.
In 1987, he was appointed administrative secretary to then Bishop Anthony Bevilacqua of Pittsburgh, and a year later, was named administrative secretary and master of ceremonies.
In 1997, he was ordained an auxiliary bishop for the Diocese of Pittsburgh and in 2003, named the bishop of the Diocese of Green Bay, Wisconsin.
The Diocese of Pittsburgh has a Catholic population of 781,811, served by 531 priests, 37 permanent deacons, and 11,455 religious sisters and brothers.
ZE07071803 - 2007-07-18