DALLAS _ In a move North Texas Catholics have been awaiting since August, Pope Francis named Juneau's Bishop Edward J. Burns as bishop of the Dallas Catholic Diocese on Tuesday.
The 59-year-old has served in Alaska since 2009 and the year before was named rector of St. Paul Seminary in Pittsburgh, his hometown.
The Dallas position had been held by Bishop Kevin Farrell until August, when he was named to lead the Dicastery for Laity, the Family and Life, a new Vatican department in August.
The beloved leader was named a cardinal two months later.
Burns was introduced to Dallas on Tuesday during a news conference at the Diocese of Dallas building where his picture is already framed and hanging on the wall.
"I am grateful to our Holy Father, Pope Francis, for his confidence in appointing me as your next bishop. I am humbled by this opportunity," he said.
The diocese tweeted a statement from Farrell, who said he's known Burns and worked with him for many years at the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops.
"His warm, outgoing and collaborative personality as well as his extensive experience on vocations, safe environment and parish ministry make him an excellent choice to lead the Diocese of Dallas," Farrell wrote. "I know he will be warmly welcomed in the diocese that I love so well."
Burns previously worked on the national level as executive director of the Secretariat for Clergy, Consecrated Life and Vocations at the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops in Washington, D.C., since 1999, according to a Dallas Diocese news release issued Tuesday.
He was ordained a priest in 1983 after attending seminary at St. Paul and earning a degree in philosophy and sociology from Duquesne University in Pittsburgh.
He serves as chairman of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops Committee on the Protection of Children and Young People, a member of the subcommittee on Catholic Home Missions and as a member of the Catholic Relief Services Board of Directors.
Burns arrives to a diocese of 1.3 million Catholics; the Juneau community had 10,000. It will be a significant change, he said, but one he's ready for.
Roughly 700,000 Dallas Catholics are Latinos. Farrell, who speaks fluent Spanish, was widely praised for his work with the Latino community and his efforts to close the gap between English and Spanish speaking parishes.
Burns said carrying on this work will be a large focus. Although he doesn't speak Spanish fluently, he said he plans to learn.
He addressed the immigrant community directly after speaking in broken Spanish and said: "We are in solidarity with you. We want to serve you in any way that we can."
A lead organizer with Dallas Area Interfaith, Josephine Lopez Paul, said the multi-institutional group is eager to work with the new bishop.
"His attention and care to the immigrant community will be very critical," said Lopez Paul. "Farrell focused on building bridges between communities, and we need that to continue."
President Thomas Keefe of the University of Dallas, a Catholic college in Irving that works closely with the bishop of Dallas, said Burns has already called the school and introduced himself.
"Bishop Burns is an incredible find for the Dallas Diocese," said Keefe. "He's one of the best bishops in the country with a great reputation as a hard worker and collaborator. UD is very excited for him to come to Dallas."
Burns will be installed as the new local leader for the Catholic Church on Feb. 9.
