The Apostolic Nuncio, Archbishop Christophe Pierre has informed us that the Most Reverend Gerald E. Wilkerson, Auxiliary Bishop Emeritus of Los Angeles, has been appointed Apostolic Administrator “sede vacante” of the Diocese of Monterey in California.
Full story at Diocese of Monterey.
Bishop Gerald Eugene Wilkerson was appointed Auxiliary Bishop Emeritus of the San Fernando Pastoral Region in 1998. Ordained a Priest in 1965, he had been serving the Archdiocese of Los Angeles for over fifty years.
Having reached the retirement age for Bishops of 75 years of age, on July 21, 2015, Pope Francis accepted the retirement of Bishop Wilkerson.
Full story at Diocese of Los Angeles.
Is this only a short term appoinment until the Vatican names a permanent successor? Give Bishop Garcia’s poor health, one would expect that process should be already well underway.
Sir, please note that Bishop Garcia died. See CCD’s July 12th post on his death.
Hmmm… Hmmm… Hmmm… After making good progress under the leadership of Bp. Richard Garcia, I feel that’s all going to slip away, beginning with this appointment…
Unless you have solid evidence to support such an assertion I think that charity and prudence demand that you refrain from such negative remarks. Please consider removing that gratuitous and posting.
He is just an administrator.
Can. 428 §1. When a see is vacant, nothing is to be altered.
§2. Those who temporarily care for the governance of the diocese are forbidden to do anything which can be prejudicial in some way to the diocese or episcopal rights. They, and consequently all others, are specifically prohibited, whether personally or through another, from removing or destroying any documents of the diocesan curia or from changing anything in them.
I am well aware Bishop Garcia died. My point is, given his declining health, I believe a search for his successor should have begun before his passing.