Pope Francis elevates Mundelein seminary leader
Pope Francis has elevated a Mundelein seminary rector and president to a top spot at the Archdiocese of Los Angeles.
University of St. Mary of the Lake/Mundelein Seminary's leader, the Rev. Robert Barron, was introduced Tuesday as one of three auxiliary bishops appointed by the pope to the Los Angeles archdiocese. Barron has led the Mundelein seminary since 2012.
Barron will be moving to the largest archdiocese in the United States. At a news conference, Los Angeles Archbishop Jose H. Gomez called Barron "a fine priest" and noted his many accomplishments in media, such as authoring 12 books and hosting PBS documentaries on Catholicism.
"I predict that he is going to like the weather here a lot," Gomez joked during the news conference that was shown live online from Cathedral of Our Lady of the Angels.
After graduating from Benet Academy in Lisle, Barron entered the Archdiocese of Chicago seminary system and was ordained a priest in 1986. His career took him to St. Paul of the Cross Parish in Park Ridge as associate pastor, and in 1992 he landed on Mundelein seminary's faculty. He rose to the top slot there 20 years later.
Barron touched on the importance of his media work at Tuesday's news conference. He started Word on Fire, a Catholic evangelistic ministry through which he created and hosted two documentary film series.
"It's a hopeful way to engage that part of the culture," said Barron, who noted about 75 percent of Catholics don't regularly practice their religion.
Barron is second to Pope Francis in the number of social media followers for Catholic leaders, according to Word on Fire.
Chicago archdiocese officials credited Barron with revising the Mundelein seminary's curriculum by combining human and spiritual formation with academic studies and pastoral training. He was known to stress how future priests must become excellent preachers and pastors while engaging others outside their Catholic parish.
In addition, Barron led building initiatives, such as restoring the Chapel of the Immaculate Conception to its original grandeur.
University of St. Mary of the Lake/Mundelein Seminary's vice rector of administration, the Rev. James Presta, said the school was thrilled to learn about Barron becoming bishop-elect in Los Angeles.
"The Archdiocese of Los Angeles is gaining a wonderful priest, a great scholar of faith and culture, and one of the best preachers in the church today," said Presta, who was one of Barron's seminary classmates.