Washington auxiliary bishop retires; new one named

Published: 2004-05-18

WASHINGTON (CNS) -- Pope John Paul II has accepted the resignation of Auxiliary Bishop Leonard J. Olivier of Washington. At the same time, he named a Florida priest as a new auxiliary bishop for Washington. Father Martin D. Holley, pastor of Little Flower Church in Pensacola, Fla., is the new Washington auxiliary. He is to be ordained a bishop July 2. The changes were announced May 18 in Washington by Archbishop Gabriel Montalvo, apostolic nuncio to the United States. Bishop-designate Holley, like Bishop Olivier, is African-American. With the changes, the number of active black bishops in the country remains at 10, while the number of those retired increases to four. Bishop Olivier, who turned 80 last October, had been the oldest active bishop in the country. At 49 Bishop-designate Holly will not be the youngest, but only a few are younger.

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