A few facts about Archbishop Raymond Burke's appointment as Prelate of the Apostolic Signatura:
- The appointment took place at noon in Rome (5 a.m. Central time), and was effective immediately. (So, technically, Raymond Leo Burke is already the Prefect, and no longer Archbishop of Saint Louis).
- Archbishop Burke will begin moving to Rome during the month of July, but will still be in and out of Saint Louis and the U.S. until early August.
- This afternoon, an Archdiocesan Administrator will be chosen to help run the day-to-day affairs of the Archdiocese until a new Archbishop arrives.
- Archbishop Burke will still be present for the Dedication week at the Shrine of Our Lady of Guadalupe in La Cross, Wisconsin.
Please pray for Archbishop Burke during this time of transition! More will likely be revealed at the 11:00 a.m. press conference, held at the Rigali Center.
(P.S. Rome will be getting a 'Saint Louis Cardinal,' if Archbishop Burke becomes one as part of his job!).
From the Archbishop's Mouth: Check out the story (and video) on Archstl.org.
- Archdiocesan Q&A regarding Archbishop Burke's Appointment
- Press Release regarding Archbishop Burke's Appointment
- Archbishop Burke's Biography
Here's his statement, transcribed on Archstl.org:
Today, at noon in Rome (5 a.m. CDT), it was announced that His Holiness, Pope Benedict XVI, has named me prefect of the Supreme Tribunal of the Apostolic Signatura, effective immediately. With the announcement, I ceased to be the Archbishop of St. Louis.
I am deeply humbled by the trust which His Holiness has placed in me, and, in priestly obedience, I have pledged to serve our Holy Father to the best of my abilities. Although you will no longer pray for me as your archbishop, especially during the celebration of the Holy Mass, I ask your prayers for me, that I may faithfully and generously cooperate with God's grace in fulfilling my new responsibilities.
Leaving the service of the Church in the Archdiocese of St. Louis is most sad for me. It has been an honor and gift for me to serve the archdiocese over the past four years and five months. It had been my hope to serve here for a long time, but, as the bishop who called me to priestly ordination often remarked, "Man proposes, but God disposes." I trust that doing what our Holy Father has asked me to do will bring blessings to the Archdiocese of St. Louis and to me. St. Louis is a great archdiocese which will always have a treasured place in my heart.
In a particular way, I am saddened to leave my fellow priests, whom I have so much grown to esteem and love. Often, I have spoken about the remarkable unity and loyalty of our presbyterate. For me, it has been a special grace to work with them in the service of God's flock in the archdiocese. I thank them for the priestly fraternity which they have always shown me, and for the generous obedience with which they have responded to my pastoral care and governance of our beloved archdiocese.
With regard to the governance of the archdiocese, the College of Consultors will meet to elect an archdiocesan administrator who, with the help of the consultors, will govern the archdiocese, until the new archbishop is appointed and installed. Please pray for the College of Consultors and for the archdiocesan administrator whom they will elect.
Again, I ask your prayers. You can count upon my daily prayers for the Archdiocese of St. Louis, always.