FRANCIS

BISHOP

SERVANT OF THE SERVANTS OF GOD

To Our Venerable Brother Bernard Anthony Hebda, until now coadjutor Archbishop of Newark and also apostolic Administrator of the vacant see of Archdiocese of Saint Paul and Minneapolis, appointed Archbishop of the same Metropolitan See of Saint Paul and Minneapolis, greetings and Apostolic blessing.

Nothing except the mercy of Jesus, by which “He saved us through the bath of rebirth and renewal by the Holy Spirit” (Titus3, 5), compels Us to feed the Flock with the same ardor which Christ demanded of Peter (confer John 21, 15-19). Accordingly, among the responsibilities, which We, who follow in the footsteps of the same Apostle, fulfill without delay for thee Church Universal and judge to be of no small importance is that of providing shepherds for each and every Local Church, so that men and women “may approach . . . mercy and find grace for timely help” (Hebrews 4,16). For this reason, it is only with loving care that at this time We direct Our attention to “the Twin Cities,” which are in need of an Ordinary, owing to the resignation of John Clayton Nienstedt, its former Shepherd. Indeed, Venerable Brother, holding before Our eyes your merits and considering the experience, which you have already acquired through your episcopal ministry carried out in Gaylord and Newark, We judge it to be spiritually beneficial if you, who have already begun to preach the Gospel in the state of Minnesota, were to continue doing so as the Ordinary of that Province.

Therefore, upon consultation with the Congregation for Bishops, from the fullness of Our Apostolic authority, We release you from the bond of the church in Newark, and We name and appoint you Metropolitan Archbishop of Saint Paul and Minneapolis, conferring upon you the rights and imposing the obligations connected with this mandate. In addition, you will take care to inform the clergy and the faithful of your Archdiocese about this appointment.

Finally, Venerable Brother, as you devote yourself to the faithful dwelling in the northern part of the United States, We commend you to the intercession of Saint Paul the Apostle, that, led by his example, you may put faith in first place and not law (Confer Misericordiac Vultus, 20).

Given at Rome, at St. Peter’s, on the twenty-fourth day of the month of March, Holy Thursday, in the year 2016, the Jubilee of Mercy, the fourth of Our Pontificate.

FRANCIS

Marcello Rossetti,

Protonotary Apostolic