Resignation of archbishop of Philadelphia, U.S.A., and appointment of successor

The Holy Father has accepted the resignation from the pastoral care of the archdiocese of Philadelphia, United States of America, presented by Archbishop Charles J. Chaput, O.F.M. Cap.

The Pope has appointed as metropolitan archbishop of Philadelphia, United States of America, Bishop Nelson Jesus Perez of Cleveland, Ohio.

The Archbishop-elect Nelson Jesus Perez was born on 16 June 1961 in Miami in the archdiocese of the same name, in Florida. After obtaining a bachelor’s degree in psychology from Montclair State University in New Jersey (1983) he taught at the elementary school, at the Colegio la Piedad in Puerto Rico. He carried out his ecclesiastical studies at the Saint Charles Borromeo Seminary in Overbrook, Pennsylvania, where he obtained a master’s degree in theology (1985 to 1989).

He was ordained a priest on 20 May 1989 for the archdiocese of Philadelphia.

Since priestly ordination, he has held the following offices: parish vicar of the Saint Ambrose parish in Philadelphia (1989 to 1993); vice director of the archdiocesan office for Hispanic faithful (1990 to 1993); director and founder of the Catholic Institute for Evangelization (1993 to 2002); parish priest of the Saint William parish in Philadelphia (2002 to 2009); and parish priest of the Saint Agnes parish in West Chester (2009 to 2012). In addition, he has been member of the presbyteral council of the archdiocese of Philadelphia (2003 to 2005), and professor of psychology and religious studies at the La Salle University in Philadelphia (1994 to 2008).

In 1998 he was appointed as Chaplain of His Holiness and on 24 October 2009 he was named Prelate of Honour of His Holiness.

He was appointed as titular bishop of Catro and auxiliary of Rockville Centre, New York, on 8 June 2012, and received episcopal consecration the following 25 July.

As auxiliary of Rockville Centre he was episcopal vicar of the Eastern Vicariate and for the Hispanic Apostolate.

On 11 July 2017 he was transferred to the see of Cleveland, Ohio, taking office the following 5 September.

Within the Conference of Catholic Bishops of the United States of America he is chair of the Committee on Cultural Diversity in the Church, and member of the Administrative Committee and of the Committee on Religious Liberty.

He speaks English and Spanish.