Pope Accepts Resignation Of Archbishop John Vlazny; Names Bishop Alexander Sample To Succeed Him

WASHINGTON—Pope Benedict XVI has accepted the resignation of Bishop JohnG. Vlazny, 75, from the pastoral governance of the Archdiocese of Portland inOregon, and named Bishop Alexander K. Sample of Marquette, Michigan, 52, tosucceed him.

Theappointment was publicized in Washington, January 29, by Archbishop Carlo MariaViganò, apostolic nuncio to the United States.

AlexanderSample was born Nov. 7, 1960 in Kalispell, Montana. He completed studies in philosophy at the College of St. Thomas, St. Paul,Minnesota, and in 1986, before entering the Pontifical College Josephinum in Columbus, Ohio, to study for the priesthood.. He holds bachelorof science and master of science degrees in metallurgical engineering fromMichigan Technological University, Houghton, Michigan, and a licentiate incanon law from the Pontifical University of St. Thomas Aquinas (Angelicum) inRome.

Hewas ordained a priest for the Diocese of Marquette in 1990, and was named chancellorof the diocese in 1996. In 2005, he was named bishop of Marquette.

JohnG. Vlazny was born in Chicago in 1937, and ordained a priest for the Archdioceseof Chicago in 1961. He was named an auxiliary bishop of Chicago in 1983, andBishop of Winona, Minnesota, in1987. Heholds a licentiate in sacred theology from the Gregorian University, Rome; amaster of arts degree in the classics from the University of Michigan and amaster of education degree in educational administration from Loyola University,Chicago.

ThePortland Archdiocese includes 415,725 Catholics, or 12 percent of the 3,327,110people in the entire archdiocese.

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