Alaska bishop named to head Montana diocese

Published: 2007-11-20

WASHINGTON (CNS) -- Pope Benedict XVI has named Bishop Michael W. Warfel of Juneau, Alaska, as the bishop of Great Falls-Billings, Mont. The appointment was announced in Washington Nov. 20 by Archbishop Pietro Sambi, apostolic nuncio to the United States. Bishop Warfel has headed the Juneau Diocese since he was ordained its bishop in December 1996. The Great Falls-Billings Diocese has been vacant since June 2006, when Bishop Anthony M. Milone retired at age 73 for health reasons. The diocese covers more than 94,000 square miles and serves about 51,000 Catholics in 66 parishes and 44 missions in the eastern two-thirds of the state. In a statement released by the Great Falls-Billings Diocese, Bishop Milone said: "I am so pleased and grateful to our Holy Father, Pope Benedict XVI, for this appointment. I know that the Catholics of the diocese will receive Bishop Warfel with openness and great hospitality." Bishop Warfel, 59, will be installed Jan. 16 at Holy Spirit Church in Great Falls.

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