Lansing bishop retires; Detroit auxiliary named his successor

Published: 2008-02-27

WASHINGTON (CNS) -- Pope Benedict XVI has accepted the resignation of Bishop Carl F. Mengeling of Lansing, Mich., 77, and named as his successor Detroit Auxiliary Bishop Earl A. Boyea, 56. The changes were announced in Washington Feb. 27 by Archbishop Pietro Sambi, apostolic nuncio to the United States. Bishop Boyea's installation will be April 29. "I am blessed to be the bearer and bringer of good news," Bishop Mengeling told reporters at a press conference in Lansing. "For more than two years, we have been patiently waiting, amidst much rumor and speculation, for the announcement of a new bishop for the Diocese of Lansing," he said. "Today, we thank God and rejoice in our new bishop." He noted that canon law requires all bishops to submit their resignation to the pope at age 75, which he did in 2005, he said. Bishop Mengeling, ordained as the bishop of Lansing Jan. 26, 1996, said that in the last 12 years he has met Bishop Boyea on various occasions and knows that, "above all, he loves being a priest and bishop who loves Christ and his church."

Copyright (c) 2008 Catholic News Service /U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops. The CNS news report may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or otherwise distributed, including but not limited to such means as framing or any other digital copying or distribution method, in whole or in part without the prior written authority of Catholic News Service .