Source: Minneapolis Star Tribune -- Read Full Story

The auxiliary bishop for the Catholic Archdiocese of St. Paul and Minneapolis for the past seven years will be the next bishop in Des Moines, the Vatican announced today. Pope Benedict XVI has appointed Richard E. Pates, 65, to succeed Joseph Charron, who has retired. Pates will assume his new duties next month and be installed at a mass in Des Moines on May 29. "It is a welcome privilege to be called to serve such a vibrant, spirited community in America's heartland," Pates, a St. Paul native, said in a news release issued for the Twin Cities archdiocese. "It is a particular honor to succeed Bishop Charron, a good friend and a conscientious shepherd and effective leader."