“I am deeply grateful to the Holy Father for this appointment and his confidence in me,” said Archbishop-designate Nelson Perez during a press conference on Jan. 23 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania where his appointment as the 14th bishop and the 10th archbishop of the Archdiocese of Philadelphia was announced. His installation will take place on Feb. 18 in Philadelphia.
“It is with great joy tinged with a sense of sadness that I accept the appointment – joy that I will be returning to serve the archdiocese in which I was ordained to the priesthood, where I served as the pastor of two parishes and where I held several leadership positions within the archdiocese,” said the archbishop-designate. “And sadness that I will be leaving an area and the incredible people in Northeast Ohio I have come to love deeply.” He often speaks fondly of how warmly he was welcomed and accepted in the eight-county Diocese of Cleveland and how at home he feels there.
The announcement was made on Jan. 23 in Washington, D.C., by Archbishop Christophe Pierre, apostolic nuncio to the United Sates. Archbishop-designate Perez will replace Archbishop Charles Chaput, who submitted his resignation to Pope Francis – as required by canon law – when he turned 75 in September 2019.
“I’m delighted to have Archbishop-designate Perez here. I can’t think of a better successor to lead this archdiocese,” said Archbishop Chaput. “He will care for and guide the archdiocese; he speaks the truth with conviction and charity. He knows and loves the Church in Philadelphia and he knows and is loved by the priests and people. I am grateful to Pope Francis for sending him home to us.”
The archbishop-designate was greeted with applause and by old friends as he entered the room. He said he returns to the archdiocese with a sense of great gratitude.
Archbishop-designate Perez is the son of Cuban immigrants who was born in Miami. He grew up in West New York, New Jersey and was ordained a priest for the archdiocese in May 1989. In 2012, he was appointed as an auxiliary bishop of the Diocese of Rockville Centre, New York, where he served until Pope Francis named him the 11th bishop of Cleveland in July 2017. He was installed in September 2017.
During his nearly 2½ years in Cleveland, he endeared himself to Catholics and non-Catholics alike as he worked to share Pope Francis’ view of evangelism, espousing missionary discipleship and explaining that the Church should take initiative, be engaged, accompany people, be fruitful and joyful. He plans to continue that vision in Philadelphia, making the Church there even more powerful and vibrant, he said.
Archbishop-designate Perez enjoys being among the people and visited most of the 185 parishes, all Catholic high schools and many elementary schools, as well as hospitals, nursing homes, Catholic Charities’ programs and other ministries throughout the Diocese of Cleveland. He especially enjoyed interacting with students and young adults, calling them “a great source of joy.”
His new appointment was a surprise, which he said learned about last weekend while visiting his mother in Florida. Archbishop Pierre called and asked if he was alone. “That’s like a code for the nuncio,” he quipped. “I said ‘Archbishop, you’re not changing me again, are you?’ And he said, ‘Not me, the Holy Father.’ I asked him, ‘Where now?’ and he asked if I was sitting down,” Archbishop-designate Perez said. “Then he told me, ‘Philadelphia.’ I was shocked. But once a Philly priest, always a Philly priest. You carry it inside,” he said. “I’m grateful to Archbishop Pierre, but I hope he doesn’t call me anymore,” he said, laughing.
Referring to Archbishop Chaput, the archbishop-designate said he has big shoes to fill. He noted the archbishop was his bishop for a short time before he became an auxiliary in Rockville Centre. Since then, the two have become friends. “I consider him a brother bishop, a friend and mentor,” he added. Archbishop Chaput gave Archbishop-designate Perez the pectoral cross he was wearing at the press conference when he was elevated to bishop in 2012.
“He’s been a bishop longer than I’ve been a priest – 32 years. He handled things in Philadelphia with great care and did it sometimes amid criticism. But he is steadfast in his love for you and the Church,” the archbishop-designate said. “He made some hard decisions for the archdiocese for the good of the Church – like a father has to do in a family.”
The archbishop-designate acknowledges there will be some tough decisions to make in the archdiocese, but he said he is confident those issues can be handled with input and consultation.
During a question and answer session, Archbishop-designate Perez was asked if he had something to help inspire the lay faithful. He recalled a presentation he made at the Cleveland Clinic last year when a doctor asked him if he had hope, given the disturbing things taking place in the world.
“I told him I gave my life to a faith that believes a dead man came back to life so yes, I have hope,” he said. The archbishop-designate also noted that the church – meaning the people – comes and goes, but the Church that is the mystical body of Christ transcends time.
He also asked those assembled to learn and repeat a mantra he often uses: “Never underestimate the power of the Holy Spirit working in you, through you and despite you.”
Photos courtesy of the Archdiocese of Philadelphia and Sarah Webb on behalf of CatholicPhilly.com.