San Francisco archbishop retires; Bishop Cordilione to succeed him

Catholic News Service
July 27, 2012

WASHINGTON -- Pope Benedict XVI has accepted the resignation of Archbishop George H. Niederauer of San Francisco and named Bishop Salvatore J. Cordileone of Oakland, Calif., to succeed him.

Carlo Maria Vigano, apostolic nuncio to the United States, announced the appointment and resignation Friday in Washington.

Niederauer, 76, had led the San Francisco Archdiocese since 2005. A priest of the Archdiocese of Los Angeles, he also served as bishop of Salt Lake City for 10 years. Cordileone, a 56-year-old native of San Diego, was an auxiliary bishop in that diocese from 2002 until his 2009 appointment as bishop of Oakland.