Bishop Joseph Kurtz becomes new head of Archdiocese of Lousiville

Louisville, Ky., Jun 12, 2007 / 08:13 am

This morning the Holy Father announced that he has appointed a new archbishop for the Archdiocese of Louisville. The new head of the archdiocese is Bishop Joseph Kurtz who has been the bishop of Knoxville, Tennessee for the past seven years.

Bishop Kurtz accepted Pope Benedict’s appointment by placing his trust, “in the grace of Jesus Christ and in the Providential Plan of our Heavenly Father.” In a statement on the archdiocesan website, the new Archbishop said that he will look to the leadership of the Holy Father as his model—a model of “unity in truth and charity.”

The former bishop of Knoxville said that he is looking forward to his new role as pastor of the Archdiocese of Louisville. “I am eager to meet all the priests and all those who minister to the faithful of the archdiocese and to love and serve with them, seeking the unity in truth and in charity that echoes the prayer of Jesus as well as the Commonwealth of Kentucky’s motto: ‘United we stand; Divided we fall.’”

Both Archbishop Kelly, the retiring head of the archdiocese, and Bishop Kurtz have mentioned how they have enjoyed working with each other over the past seven years.

Archbishop Kelly said, “I have valued working with him since his appointment as Bishop of Knoxville, and I know how much the people of his diocese will miss him. I wish him all the best as he pastors this wonderful local church; I cannot imagine a better match for the Archdiocese of Louisville.”

Bishop Kurtz will be installed as the head of the Archdiocese of Louisville on August 15th 2007, the Feast of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary. Noting how appropriate this date is, Bishop Kurtz pointed out that it is, “the Patronal Feast of the Cathedral and coincides with the Thirtieth Anniversary of Archbishop Kelly’s Episcopal Ordination.”