SOURCE: Archdiocese of Miami

At this morning’s press conference in Miami (as mentioned in the previous post), Archbishop-designate Wenski gave the following remarks. Most of the remarks were also made in a video presentation that was posted on the website for the Diocese of Orlando earlier this morning.

This morning, upon the acceptance of Archbishop Favalora’s request to retire, Pope Benedict XVI appointed me as the fourth Archbishop of the Metropolitan See of Miami.

Jesus once bid Peter “Duc in altum” (Put out into the deep). Now Peter’s successor has asked me to do the same in entrusting to me this new responsibility. I am being called back to this local Church where I was ordained a priest and where I served as a parish priest and auxiliary bishop. Humbled by the Holy Father’s confidence in me and aware of my own limitations and shortcomings, I once again ask the intercession of Mary, Mother of the Church, that I may worthily fulfill my new duties as the fourth Archbishop of Miami upon my installation on June 1, 2010.

This morning, Archbishop John C. Favalora and Archbishop-elect Thomas G. Wenski, held a press conference at the Archdiocese of Miami Pastoral Center. Addressing the appointment of Bishop Wenski as fourth Archbishop of Miami, Archbishop Favalora issued the following statement:

“It was officially announced today at the Vatican that Pope Benedict XVI has accepted my letter of resignation as Archbishop of Miami. I have been privileged and blessed to serve as Metropolitan Archbishop of Miami for almost sixteen years. There is hardly a more exciting and challenging place than South Florida. As I move into retirement years, I bring with me very fond memories of my ministry with our dedicated priests and deacons, the wonderful religious and seminarians, and the faithful hard-working laity of the Archdiocese.

Shortly after it was made public that he would become the next Archbishop of Miami, Archbishop-designate Wenski and the Diocese of Orlando released a video message on the diocesan website that began with the following message:

“Jesus once bid Peter to put out into the deep. Now, Peter’s successor has asked me to do the same, entrusting to me this new responsibility. I am being called back to that local church where I was ordained a priest and where I served as a parish priest and Auxiliary Bishop. Humbled by the Holy Father’s confidence in me and aware of my own limitations shortcomings, I once again ask the intercession of Mary, Mother of the Church that I may worthily fulfill my duties as the fourth Archbishop of Miami.”

For the full video, please go to the Diocese of Orlando website.

The official announcement from the Vatican Information Service:

This morning, I awoke to the news that the Holy Father had appointed Bishop Thomas Wenski as the Archbishop-designate for the Archdiocese of Miami, accepting the resignation of Archbishop John C. Favalora eight months early. As most of you who are readers of Catholic blogs know, news of this appointment has been expected for some time now. However, this appointment is close to home for me. As a seminarian for the Diocese of Orlando, it was Bishop Wenski who accepted me and allowed me to be given this opportunity to journey so close with the Lord. For that, I will be forever appreciative to the Archbishop-designate.

In 1976, Wenski was ordained a priest for the Archdiocese of Miami. He began his priestly ministry working in a Hispanic parish in Miami and was given the opportunity to help start an outreach program for Haitian immigrants to the United States. Since that time, Bishop Wenski has become close to the people of Haiti. In recent weeks, following the devastating earthquakes in that country, Bishop Wenski has grown even closer to the people of Haiti, praying for them, crying with them, mourning with them. With Wenski now at the helm of the Archdiocese, the fraternity between the people of Miami and Haiti will only continue to grow.