Bishop Oscar Cantú named Apostolic Administrator for Archdiocese of San Antonio

Pope Benedict XVI, through the Vatican’s Congregation of Bishops, has named Auxiliary Bishop Oscar Cantú Apostolic Administrator for the Archdiocese of San Antonio.


The appointment is effective May 26, 2010, as Archbishop José Gomez vacates his seat as Archbishop of San Antonio and assumes his position as coadjutor archbishop of the Archdiocese of Los Angeles, CA.

The announcement was made by Apostolic Nuncio, Pietro Sambi, theVatican’s ambassador and its liaison to the Catholic Church in the United States.

While there are limitations placed on the apostolic administrator by church law, Bishop Cantú will generally have the same authority and responsibilities as an archbishop.

Cantú will hold this office on an interim basis, until the new archbishop is named by the Pope, which could take six to twelve months.

Upon learning of his appointment, Bishop Cantú said, “I thank the Congregation for Bishops for the confidence they have placed in me to serve as caretaker of the ministry and mission of the Church of the Archdiocese of San Antonio.

I pledge to ensure that the services to our parishes and the ministry of the Church will continue uninterrupted and that I will carry on the good work of Archbishops Gomez and Flores.

I ask that you join me in prayer that a new archbishop will be named soon.”