Pope Benedict XVI has named Bishop Michael Burbidge, heretofore auxiliary of Philadelphia, as bishop of Raleigh. Bishop Burbidge, 49 next week, succeeds Bishop F. Joseph Gossman, the longest-serving diocesan bishop in the United States, whose resignation was accepted for reasons of age.

The Pope has named Msgr Daniel Thomas, a former official of the Congregation for Bishops and currently pastor of Our Lady of the Assumption Church in Strafford, as auxiliary bishop of Philadelphia, assigning him to the titular see of Bardstown.

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