Cardinal Joseph William Tobin, C.SS.R., Archbishop of Newark, United States of America, was born in Detroit, Michigan, on May 3rd, 1952. He entered the Congregation of the Most Holy Redeemer, gave his first vows on August 5th, 1972 and his solemn vows on August 21st, 1976. In 1975 he obtained a Bachelor's degree in philosophy from the Holy Redeemer College in Waterfort, Wisconsin; in 1977 he obtained a Master's degree in Religious Education and in 1979 a Master of Divinity from Mount St. Alphonsus Major Seminary in Esopus, New York.

He was ordained a priest on June 1st, 1978 and served as assistant priest (1979-1984); and then pastor (1984-1990) of the Holy Redeemer Parish in Detroit; episcopal vicar of the archdiocese of Detroit (1980-1986); and pastor of the St. Alphonsus Parish in Chicago (1990-1991).

In 1991 he was elected General Consulter of the Redemptorist Fathers and on September 9th, 1997, superior general. He was confirmed in the post on September 26th, 2003. In the same year he became vice-president of the Union of Superiors General.

In addition he has served as a member of the Council for Relations between the Congregation for Institutes of Consecrated Life and Societies of Apostolic Life and the International Unions of Superiors and of Superiors General (2001-2009).

He was appointed as secretary of the Congregation for Institutes of Consecrated Life and Societies of Apostolic Life on August 2nd, 2010 and at the same time raised to the titular see of Obba with the dignity of archbishop, receiving episcopal consecration on October 9th,  2010.

On October 18th, 2012 the Holy Father Benedict XVI appointed him as archbishop of Indianapolis.

On Novembre 7th, 2016 the Holy Father Francis appointed him as archbishop of Newark.

Created and proclaimed Cardinal by Pope Francis in the consistory of 19 November 2016.

Member of:

• Council for the Economy;
• Dicasteries: for Institutes of Consecrated Life and Societies of Apostolic Life; for Bishops; for Culture and l'Education; for Promoting Christian Unity;
• Supreme Tribunal of the Apostolic Signatura.