O'Brien to replace Keeler as Abp. of Baltimore

Rocco had the drop at 6:05 this morning:

This morning, Pope Benedict accepted the age-induced resignation of Cardinal William Keeler as archbishop of Baltimore, naming Archbishop Edwin O’Brien of the Military Services USA as the fourteenth successor to John Carroll, the nation’s founding bishop.

Today's Vatican Information Service bulletin confirms:

The Holy Father appointed Archbishop Edwin Frederick O’Brien, military ordinary for the U.S.A., as metropolitan archbishop of Baltimore (area 12,430, population 3,055,477, Catholics 517,679, priests 545, permanent deacons 178, religious 1,380), U.S.A. He succeeds Cardinal William Henry Keeler, whose resignation from the pastoral care of the same archdiocese the Holy Father accepted, upon having reached the age limit.

Reports from Catholic news outlets:

• CWNews: "The appointment in Baltimore gives Archbishop O'Brien a high-profile position as the Church there prepares to celebrate the 200th anniversary of its establishment as a metropolitan archdiocese-- which occurred simultaneously with the establishment of new American dioceses in New York, Boston, Philadelphia, and Bardstown, Kentucky."
• CNA: "Archbishop O’Brien was previously the head of the Archdiocese for the Military Services which has 1.5 million Catholics, two auxiliary bishops and 300 priests in uniform."
• CNS: "[Keeler] has been a bishop since 1979 and had headed the Baltimore Archdiocese for more than 18 years."

Onge again, a bishop chosen with significant seminary/formation experience: "Prior to his ordination as bishop, Archbishop O’Brien served as Rector at two seminaries, St. Joseph’s Seminary, Dunwoodie, NY and the Pontifical North American College in Rome." [source.]

It should also be remembered that O'Brien coordinated the recent U.S. seminary visitations conducted by the Holy See. [more.]

Rocco has more analysis with his post.

Some excerpts from MSM reporting:

• Baltimore Sun: "Caine warned against reading anything into the appointment of a 68-year-old to replace Keeler. He will have to submit his resignation at 75. "At the very least, he'll be here seven years," Caine said, adding that with the exception of Keeler and two or three of his predecessors, many others named to lead the Baltimore archdiocese served relatively short terms."
• Associated Press: "Newly appointed Baltimore Archbishop Edwin F. O'Brien will focus on recruiting priests to the diocese's two seminaries, drawing on his personal motto, "I will give you shepherds of my own heart," he said Thursday."
• Washington Post: "At a press conference in Baltimore this morning, O'Brien said the news of his appointment hit him like "a thunderbolt" when he received a call from Rome on July 3, the Associated Press reported. He said he is leaving his current post with "mixed emotions. I just loved the military," O'Brien said. "The service has taught me so much."

Keeler plans to remain in Baltimore as head of the Basilica Historic Trust. O'Brien will be installed as Archbishop on October 1st.

More as I read it.