Now 212 years into our life as a local church, God’s People here in Philadelphia came to accrue an odd distinction in American Catholicism… well, one among others: given the insularity of this place, we became the last major Stateside diocese that only ever had white bishops….
That is, until now – and the streak ends with a memorable splash onto the Chair of St John Neumann.
Per three Whispers ops, Pope Francis is set to name Nelson Perez – the 58 year-old bishop of Cleveland, ordained a priest of Philadelphia in 1989 – as his adopted home’s 10th Archbishop on Thursday, 23 January.