Statement by Bishop Stephen Blaire on the Appointment of the Most Reverend George Niederauer as Archbishop of San Francisco

December 15, 2005

It is a great joy to learn that George Niederauer has been appointed by Pope Benedict XVI as Archbishop of San Francisco. He comes to this position with experience as the Bishop of Salt Lake City, with a background as a seminary professor and president, highly regarded for his expertise in priestly spirituality, and known for his keen intelligence and wit.

The Diocese of Stockton is within the Ecclesiastical Province of San Francisco, along with the Dioceses of Honolulu, Las Vegas, Oakland, Reno, Sacramento, Salt Lake City, San Jose, and Santa Rosa. The bishop of each diocese is the head of the local Church and is directly responsible to the Pope. The Metropolitan Archbishop of the Province, in this case San Francisco, gathers together the bishops in the Province so they can coordinate their pastoral activities and promote the unity of the Church. An Archbishop can be considered a “Primus inter pares” – a first among equal brother bishops.

Last Update December 6, 2007