By Electa Draper
Denver Post
July 18, 2011
http://www.denverpost.com/news/ci_18500633
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| Archbishop Charles J. Chaput offers a prayer at an event in 2009. (THE DENVER POST | 2009 file) |
Denver Archbishop Charles J. Chaput is the likely sucessor to retiring Philadelphia Cardinal Justin Rigali, sources have told newspapers in Philadelphia.
Rigali, 76, will host a news conference Tuesday to announce that Pope Benedict XVI will name the Chaput, 66, to lead the 1.5 million-member Archdiocese of Philadephia, according to newspapers there.
However, the Archdiocese of Denver would not comment on those reports.
"This is speculation," Denver Archdiocese spokeswoman Jeanette DeMelo told the Post. "The rumors have been going around for weeks. ... We'll have to wait for Rome to know the reality."
DeMelo would not say whether Chaput was in Denver or elsewhere.
Chaput, a member of the Capuchin order of Franciscan priests and the country's first Native American archbishop, has made a national reputation as an archconservative among Catholics since taking leadership of the Denver Archdiocese in 1997.
Rigali succeeded Cardinal Anthony Bevilacqua in Philadelphia in 2003. Five months ago a grand-jury report criticized the Archdiocese of Philadephia for covering up claims of sexual abuse by priests against children.
The National Catholic Reporter's website said Thursday Rigali would resign.
Electa Draper: 303-954-1276 or edraper@denverpost.com
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