Pope Francis Appoints Tucson’s Bishop Edward J. Weisenburger as Archbishop of Detroit
Holy Father names Bishop Weisenburger the sixth Archbishop of Detroit,
accepts resignation of Archbishop Allen H. Vigneron
Pope Francis has appointed Bishop Edward J. Weisenburger, currently Bishop of the Diocese of Tucson, as the sixth Archbishop of Detroit. The archbishop-elect succeeds Archbishop Allen H. Vigneron, who has served the archdiocese since 2009.
The new archbishop will be installed at a ceremony at the Cathedral of the Most Blessed Sacrament at 2:00 p.m., on March 18. On March 17 at 5:30 p.m., Archbishop-elect Weisenburger will lead Vespers (evening prayer) at Sacred Heart Major Seminary. Additional details about the installation liturgy will be shared in the coming days. Following his installation, Archbishop Weisenburger will begin his assignment as chief shepherd of Michigan’s largest Catholic diocese, comprising more than 900,000 Catholics and 213 parishes.
As required by Church law, Archbishop Vigneron submitted his resignation to the Holy Father when he turned 75 on October 21, 2023. Pope Francis has named him to serve as apostolic administrator of Detroit until Archbishop-elect Weisenburger’s installation. Archbishop Vigneron will celebrate a farewell Mass on Sunday, March 9, at 11:00 a.m. at the Cathedral of the Most Blessed Sacrament.
Archbishop-elect Weisenburger commented on the announcement:
“The Archdiocese of Detroit is a Church steeped in rich history, vibrant ministries, and known for a committed clergy with a great passion for evangelization. I am humbled to be called to serve such a noble Church. Despite the challenge of leaving my happy home in the Diocese of Tucson, I promise the good people of the Archdiocese of Detroit my all,” Archbishop-elect Weisenburger said. “I am exceptionally grateful to Archbishop Vigneron for the warmth, kindness, and encouragement he expressed to me immediately upon learning of my assignment. His generous assurance of a warm welcome and his desire to be of fraternal help to me is a true blessing. It is my hope that his retirement will be marked by length of years, robust health, and many rich blessings.”
Archbishop Vigneron offered his support for the new Archbishop of Detroit:
“On behalf of all the people of God in the Archdiocese of Detroit, and in my own name, I extend to Archbishop-elect Weisenburger a heartfelt welcome to his new home,” Archbishop Vigneron said. “I offer the assurance of our prayerful support as he comes here to take up the mission being given to him by our Holy Father Pope Francis.”
Archbishop-elect Weisenburger was ordained a priest on December 19, 1987. He served in various roles within the Archdiocese of Oklahoma City, including Vice-Chancellor, Adjutant Judicial Vicar, and Vicar General, while also engaging in parish and prison ministries. He was named Bishop of Salina, Kansas, by Pope Benedict XVI in 2012 and later became Bishop of Tucson in 2017, appointed by Pope Francis. Archbishop-elect Weisenburger has held leadership roles within the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops, the National Association of Church Personnel Administrators, and Catholic Rural Life, and he holds memberships in the Knights of Columbus and the Equestrian Order of the Holy Sepulchre of Jerusalem.
With the announcement of Archbishop-elect Weisenburger’s appointment, Archbishop Vigneron assumes the status of Apostolic Administrator and Archbishop Emeritus of Detroit, the latter title he shares with Cardinal Adam J. Maida, who led the Archdiocese of Detroit from 1990 until his retirement in 2009.
“I count myself blessed by God, far beyond what I deserve, to have served for these past sixteen years as the principal pastor of the archdiocese,” Archbishop Vigneron said, reflecting on his ministry. “It has been the joy of my life to lead this local Church in responding to the Lord’s commission to share his Good News of salvation.”
Ordained a priest of the Archdiocese of Detroit in 1975, the Most Rev. Allen H. Vigneron first served as an auxiliary bishop in Detroit from 1996-2003 and the Bishop of Oakland, California, from 2003-2009. He was named Archbishop of the Archdiocese of Detroit by Pope Benedict XVI on January 5, 2009. In November 2016, Archbishop Vigneron led a Synod during which more than 400 participants—clergy, religious, and laity—gathered to pray, share, and discern a plan to renew the Church in Detroit. The fruit of those efforts was Archbishop Vigneron’s pastoral letter, Unleash the Gospel, released on the Solemnity of Pentecost 2017. In this letter, Archbishop Vigneron gave the roadmap for the missionary transformation of the Archdiocese of Detroit. This foundational document is the repository of the graces of Synod 16 that allows the work of unleashing the Gospel in southeast Michigan to move forward with confidence, focus, and resolve.
The Archdiocese of Detroit was established by Pope Gregory XVI in 1833 as the Diocese of Detroit and was elevated to an archdiocese by Pope Pius XI in 1937. Today, the archdiocese encompasses 3,903 square miles of six counties in southeast Michigan: Lapeer, Macomb, Monroe, Oakland, St. Clair, and Wayne. There are more than 900,000 self-identifying Catholics in the Archdiocese of Detroit who are served by 213 parishes and 81 elementary and high schools.
