Baltimore bishop to become next bishop of Wilmington, Delaware

Vatican City, Jul 7, 2008 / 08:00 am

Today Pope Benedict XVI named Bishop W. Francis Malooly to become the ninth bishop of the Diocese of Wilmington in the state of Delaware.

The Pontiff accepted the resignation of Bishop Michael A. Saltarelli, who in accordance with Canon Law, submitted his resignation when he turned 75 years old.

Born in 1944, Bishop Malooly is originally from Maryland.  He was ordained a priest in 1970 and was made a bishop in 2001.  He is currently an auxiliary bishop in the Diocese of Baltimore where he is also moderator of the curia, vicar general, and Western vicar for the counties of Garrett, Allegany, Washington, Frederick, Carroll and Howard.

Bishop Malooly will serve 230,000 Catholics and 214 priests in the Diocese of Wilmington.