On Tuesday, Pope Benedict XVI appointed Michigan Bishop Robert J. Carlson as the new Roman Catholic Archbishop of St. Louis. Carlson will serve as the Nineth St. Louis Archbishop since 1826.
“[Carlson is] a very energetic, articulate, warm and gifted pastor and administrator,” Archdiocesan Administrator for St. Louis Bishop Robert J. Hermann said in a statement. “He thinks and works with the church he loves, and will continue to build upon the legacy of his predecessors here in St. Louis.”
At the Cardinal Rigali Center in Shrewsbury, a press conference was held publicly introducing the Archbishop-elect.
“I know there is going to be much I can learn from you and I look forward to being a very active listener as I join you in prayer and in worship and in service,” Carlson stated at the press conference.
Carlson also stated in the press conference that he is interested in supporting Catholic education.
“I look foreword to seeing what I can do to support Catholic education,” Carlson said. “I have been blessed being able to attend Catholic school from kindergarten to 11 years of college and so I hope I can do something to support the great education system here.”
His first trip as Archbishop-elect was to the Cathedral Basilica of Saint Louis as he reflected on his new role and plans.
“In the coming months, I plan to visit the parishes of the Archdiocese so I can learn firsthand how I can best serve all of you,” Carlson said. “Hopefully I can find ways to extend bridges to those who no longer serve with us.”
Carlson first visited St. Louis in 1979. In 1999, he came to the city wanting to attend a Mass celebrated by Pope John Paul II, but was unable to get tickets needed to attend.
Carlson, 64, succeeds Raymond Burke, who served a four-and-a-half-year term as St. Louis Archbishop before being asked to lead the Vatican’s supreme court in June. Hermann has served as the interim leader of the Archdiocese of St. Louis since Burke’s departure. Like Burke, Carlson is trained as a cannon lawyer. He brings 25 years of experience leading dioceses to the job.
“[The archdiocese] could not be more happy about Bishop Robert Carlson’s appointment,” a spokesperson for the Archdiocese of St. Louis said. “We look forward to being shepherded under his tutelage.”
According to canon law, Carlson must be installed within the next two months, but the date of his installation has not been determined. Until then, Carlson will continue to be the diocesan administrator in Saginaw, Mich.
