The official announcement has been made by Pope Benedict XVI and the Vatican. At 4:00 a.m. Denver Time this morning (Tuesday, July 19), the Vatican officially announced the appointment of our brother, Archbishop Charles Chaput, OFM Cap., to be the Archbishop of Philadelphia. Archbishop Charles will remain Apostolic Administrator of the Archdiocese of Denver until his installation in Philadelphia on September 8, 2011, the Feast of the Nativity of Mary. Archbishop Charles succeeds Justin Francis Cardinal Rigali who was the eighth Archbishop of Philadelphia, making Archbishop Charles the ninth. By way of interest, three Mid-America friars are from Philadelphia: Simeon Gallagher, Joseph McGlynn, and Joseph Patrick Quinlan. The Pennsylvania Province is also present in Philadelphia in two fraternities. This is a great honor not only for Archbishop Charles, but also for the Mid-America Province and the Capuchin Order. We congratulate our brother and promise him our prayers and support as he takes on this very important ministry in our country and in the universal Church. As I told Archbishop Charles, while this is an honor and we are proud of him, I will personally miss having him in the boundaries of the province. He has been a friend and confidant to many of us who have grown up with him, served with him, studied with him, and experienced his leadership. May God be with him in this new appointment.