Pope Francis appoints new bishop for Diocese of Phoenix
Auxiliary Bishop John P. Dolan of San Diego to become 5th bishop in Diocesan History
PHOENIX (June 10, 2022) – Pope Francis has accepted the resignation of Bishop Thomas J. Olmsted from pastoral governance of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Phoenix and has appointed Auxiliary Bishop John P. Dolan of San Diego as the fifth Bishop in the 52-year history of the diocese. Bishop Dolan will begin his new assignment in Phoenix in early August 2022, taking over for one of the fastest growing Catholic dioceses in the United States with an estimated 1.1 million Catholic population.
Bishop Dolan, who turned 60 years old earlier this week, is a native of San Diego. He was appointed Auxiliary Bishop of the Diocese of San Diego in April of 2017 where he also served as the vicar general, vicar for clergy and the moderator of the curia. Prior to the appointment in 2017, he served as a priest at various parishes across the Diocese of San Diego for 28 years.
January 21, 2022, was Bishop Olmsted’s 75th birthday. According to the Canon Law of the Church, he was requested to submit his resignation to the Holy Father.
A diocesan bishop who has completed the seventy-fifth year of age is requested to present his resignation from office to the Supreme Pontiff, who will make provision after he has examined all the circumstances. (Can. 401)
Upon turning 75, Bishop Olmsted sent a letter to Pope Francis asking for permission to retire, having reached the “age limit” for bishops. The pope may accept Bishop’s resignation at his leisure, and the Diocese of Phoenix will be in a time of prayer and anticipation while we wait the appointment of our next bishop. Bishop Olmsted will remain bishop of the diocese until Pope Francis accepts his resignation. The next bishop may or may not be appointed at the same time.