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	Archbishop of Denver to Replace Cardinal Rigali WPVI July 19, 2011 http://abclocal.go.com/wpvi/story?section=news/local&id=8256646 [with link to a poll] Sources confirmed to Action News on Monday that Cardinal Justin Rigali, Archbishop of Philadelphia, will be replaced tomorrow by the Archbishop of Denver, Charles J. Chaput. Under church law, Cardinal Rigali submitted his resignation when he turned 75, that was over a year ago. It now appears that the Pope Benedict XVI has decided to accept the resignation. An announcement is expected at 6:00 a.m. Tuesday. At the time the Vatican will announce the name of Cardinal Rigali's successor as Archbishop of Philadelphia. Four names of possible successors have come to light recently. POLL: Should Cardinal Rigali have to resign? They are Bishop William Lori of Bridgeport, Connecticut; Archbishop Wilton Gregory of Atlanta; Allentown native Joseph Kurtz, Archbishop of Louisville, Kentucky. However, sources tell Action News, Rigali will be succeeded by 66-year-old Archbishop of Denver Charles Chaput. He is the first Native American Archbishop and a member of the Franciscan Capuchin Order. Rocco Palmo, author of the Catholic blog "Whispers in the Loggia", knows Archbishop Chaput well. "Very outspoken, very conservative, decisive, and it would be an indicator from Rome that they want a thorough housecleaning the way the Archdiocese is run and a complete reboot of the governing culture," Palmo said. Some believe the fallout from the sex abuse scandal and the scathing grand jury report accusing the Archdiocese of a major cover up of pedophile priests may have expedited Pope Benedict's decision to accept Rigali's resignation at this time. Palmo, though, doesn't think so. "Pope John Paul II would let them go to 80, but Pope Benedict is much more to keeping them until their successors are found," Palmo said. Some of the faithful had called for Rigali to step down as a result of the scandal. Catholics Action News spoke with attending noon mass Monday had mixed feelings. "I think we need an opportunity for someone new and someone who can move things forward and get past this terrible period in the church's history," Nicholas Bisaccia of Center City said. "I will continue to pray for Cardinal Rigali and I pray that we get a great Cardinal to replace him," Maureen Dombrowski of Pennsauken, New Jersey said. Pope John Paul II appointed Archbishop Rigali as the twelfth Bishop and eighth Archbishop of Philadelphia in July, 2003. He was named a Cardinal on September 28, 2003. On October 7, 2003, he was installed Archbishop of Philadelphia. Sources tell Action News Chaput is already in town. He and Cardinal Rigali will hold a joint news conference tomorrow morning and then will celebrate mass together at the Basilica of Saints Peter and Paul at noon.
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