Pope Francis has named the Most Reverend Edward J. Burns to serve as the new Bishop of the Diocese of Dallas.
The 59-year-old Burns succeeds Cardinal Kevin Farrell, who left Dallas for Rome Oct. 1 after the Pope appointed him the Prefect of the Vatican Dicastery for Laity, Family and Life.
“I am extremely happy and humbled that Pope Francis has chosen me to lead such an important diocese and I look forward to serving the local Church of the Diocese of Dallas," Burns said.
Archbishop Christophe Pierre, papal nuncio to the United States, announced the appointment Tuesday. Burns will be introduced at a news conference at 2 p.m. Tuesday at the Pastoral Center of the Diocese of Dallas.
Burns has served as the Bishop of Juneau, Alaska, since 2009. Before that, he served as Executive Director of the Secretariat for Clergy, Consecrated Life and Vocations at the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops in Washington, D.C.
"I appreciate Bishop Burns' great energy and enthusiasm about his new assignment here," Apostolic Administrator of the Diocese of Dallas Bishop Greg Kelly said.
Burns invited the public to join him in prayer at a special Holy Hour at 7 p.m. Tuesday at St. Rita Catholic Church at 12521 Inwood Road in Dallas.
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“I look forward to listening and learning all that I can about this beautifully diverse Catholic community and I want to assure all in the Diocese of Dallas that I will be a shepherd for all people.”
Burns will be installed as the Bishop of Dallas Feb. 9, 2017, at the Cathedral Shrine of the Virgin of Guadalupe.
