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Honoring Pope Francis
Statement from Archbishop Weisenburger
“It is with immense sadness that I share with the faithful of the Archdiocese of Detroit that our beloved Holy Father, Pope Francis, has died. My heart is heavy as our world has lost a powerful, prophetic, and loving voice. However, I also rejoice in what I pray will be a blessed reward of joy beyond all understanding for a truly great and loving Universal Shepherd.
Our Holy Father once said, “Some people want to know why I wished to be called Francis. For me, Francis of Assisi is the man of poverty, the man of peace, the man who loves and protects creation.” While it is impossible to measure Pope Francis’ impact on our Church and world, I believe the three aspects he referenced will be a lasting influence.”
-Via aod.org
Pope Francis, born Jorge Mario Bergoglio on December 17, 1936, in Buenos Aires, Argentina, is the 266th pope of the Roman Catholic Church and a transformative figure in the modern world. He was elected pope on March 13, 2013, following the historic resignation of Pope Benedict XVI, and is the first Jesuit pope, the first from the Americas, and the first non-European pope in more than 1,200 years.
Before his papacy, he served as Archbishop of Buenos Aires, where he became known for his deep humility, simple lifestyle, and close connection with the poor. He chose to live in a modest apartment, often traveled by bus, and made it a point to be among the people. These values have carried into his role as pope, shaping a papacy marked by compassion, inclusion, and a call for the Church to be a "field hospital" — a place of healing, especially for those on the margins.
Pope Francis is a powerful voice for peace, social justice, and environmental stewardship. His landmark encyclical Laudato Si’ called on the world to care for creation and recognize the deep link between environmental and human well-being. He has urged the Church to welcome those who feel excluded — including migrants, the poor, and people who feel alienated from traditional religious structures.
He is deeply committed to interfaith dialogue and reconciliation, believing in the importance of building bridges in a divided world. Whether washing the feet of prisoners, embracing the sick, or quietly praying in war-torn regions, Pope Francis leads not only with words but with actions that reflect the Gospel’s call to love.
Through his gentle leadership, Pope Francis continues to challenge and inspire millions to live with mercy, humility, and hope.
Edward Joseph Weisenburger was born in Alton, Illinois, on December 23, 1960, to Edward John Weisenburger and Asella (Walters) Weisenburger, the third of their four surviving children. His father was a military officer, and his mother a homemaker. Weisenburger grew up primarily in Lawton, Oklahoma, but as necessitated by following his father’s career, his family also lived briefly in Kansas and Texas. Following high school graduation, he attended Conception Seminary College in Missouri, graduating with honors in 1983.
He was then assigned to the American College Seminary at the Catholic University of Louvain in Belgium from 1983-1987, where he earned the Pontifical S.T.B. in Theology, an M.A. in Religious Studies and a Master's in Moral and Religious Sciences, M.MR.Sc. On December 19, 1987, he was ordained to the priesthood for the Archdiocese of Oklahoma City at the Cathedral of Our Lady of Perpetual Help in Oklahoma City.
Weisenburger served as parochial vicar of St. Mary Church in Ponca City from 1987 to 1990. He then attended the University of St. Paul in Ottawa, Canada, earning the pontifical J.C.L. degree in canon law in 1992. Upon his return home, he was appointed Vice-Chancellor and Adjutant Judicial Vicar. In addition to chancery and tribunal duties, he also did weekend parish and prison ministries from 1992-95 and served as an on-site chaplain for rescue workers in the weeks following the April 19, 1995 bombing of the Murrah Federal Building in Oklahoma City.
In the fall of 1995, he began 17 years of service on the Council of Priests and the Archdiocesan College of Consulters. He likewise served as a member of the Seminarian Board for 15 years. In June 1996, he was appointed Vicar General of the Oklahoma City Archdiocese. He was an officer with the Archdiocesan Tribunal for almost 20 years and served as Promoter of Justice for the cause of canonization of Blessed Stanley Francis Rother. On October 2, 2009, he was appointed a Prelate of Honor to His Holiness, Pope Benedict XVI, with the title Reverend Monsignor. Weisenburger served as pastor of two Oklahoma parishes: Holy Trinity in Okarche (1995-2002) and the Cathedral of Our Lady of Perpetual Help in Oklahoma City (2002-12).
On February 6, 2012, Weisenburger was appointed the eleventh Bishop of Salina, Kansas, by His Holiness, Pope Benedict XVI. He was ordained and installed at the Cathedral of the Sacred Heart in Salina, on May 1, 2012, with the Most Reverend Joseph Naumann, Archbishop of Kansas City, presiding over the Liturgy and serving as the principal ordaining prelate. On October 3, 2017, Weisenburger was appointed Bishop of Tucson by His Holiness, Pope Francis. He was installed as the seventh Bishop of Tucson on November 29, 2017.
Bishop Weisenburger serves the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) on the Committee on the Protection of Children and Young People and has previously served on the Committee for Migration and a Subcommittee of the Catholic Communication Campaign.
He currently serves as Episcopal Moderator for the National Association of Church Personnel Administrators (NACPA), is a member of Chicago’s Mundelein Seminary Board, and is a past Board Chairman of Catholic Rural Life.He enjoys Fourth Degree membership in the Knights of Columbus as well as the rank of Knight Commander with Star in the Equestrian Order of the Holy Sepulcher of Jerusalem.
Bishop Weisenburger was appointed the tenth Bishop and sixth Archbishop of Detroit by His Holiness, Pope Francis, on February 11, 2025. Archbishop-designate Weisenburger was installed on March 18, 2025.
Born: Dec. 23, 1960
Ordained Priest for the Archdiocese of Oklahoma City, Oklahoma: Dec. 19, 1987
Appointed Bishop of Salina, Kansas: Feb. 6, 2012
Installed as Bishop of Salina, Kansas: May 1, 2012
Appointed Bishop of Tucson, Arizona: Oct. 3, 2017
Installed as Bishop of Tucson, Arizona: Nov. 29, 2017
Appointed Archbishop of Detroit: Feb. 11, 2025
Installed as Archbishop of Detroit: Mar. 18, 2025
-Via aod.org
What is a Vicariate?
A Vicariate is a group of parishes within an Archdiocese, defined by geographic area for the purposes of administration. The Archdiocese of Detroit's 225 parishes are sectioned into 4 Regions- Central, Northeast, Northwest and South- that have 4 Vicariates apiece. Each Region is guided by one of the AOD's 4 Auxiliary Bishops. Central Macomb Vicariate is located in the Northeast Region. Our Regional Moderator is Bishop Robert Fisher.
The 16 Vicariates located within the Archdiocese of Detroit are each represented by a cleric as its Vicar. The Central Macomb Vicar is Father Joseph Gembala at St. Malachy in Sterling Heights, MI
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Supporting the Catholic Church
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What will you do with your life? Have you ever thought of committing your existence totally to Christ? What could be more significant than to bring Christ to people and people to Christ? Be still and ask: Where is Jesus calling you? Will you live a life worthy of the calling you have received? Do not be afraid.
If you know a young man or woman who is considering a vocation to the priesthood or religious life, resources are available on detroitpriestlyvocations.com
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