New Bishop: Salt Lake City

[davidc2]

This morning Pope Benedict XVI named Bishop John Charles Wester as the new Bishop of Salt Lake City, Utah, USA. The diocese had been vacant since then-Bishop George Hugh Niederauer was named Archbishop of San Francisco in December 2005. Bishop Wester had been serving as an Auxiliary Bishop of San Francisco.

 

[Spirithound]

What happens to a diocese without a bishop? Who governs?

 

[davidc2]

An Apostolic Administrator is appointed when a diocese becomes vacant. This may be a bishop (an auxiliary, or from a nearby diocese, etc.) or it may be a respected priest. Their powers are quite limited usually - they are basically there to take care of urgent business.