NEW JERSEY
NJ.com
By Kelly Heyboer | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com
NEWARK — A month ago, Joseph Tobin learned Pope Francis was promoting him to cardinal of the Roman Catholic Church. Two weeks after that, he learned the pope was appointing him head of the Archdiocese of Newark.
“I am not sure that my central nervous system can take much more news,” Tobin said as his appointment was announced Monday. “So, you will forgive me the occasional stutter or facial tick.”
Signaling a new era for New Jersey Catholics, Pope Francis officially announced Cardinal-designate Tobin as the new head of the Archdiocese of Newark early Monday. NJ Advance Media first reported Friday that church sources said Tobin was slated to get the job.
Church officials made the announcement at a morning press conference at the Cathedral Basilica of the Sacred Heart in Newark before members of the media and several hundred priests, church officials and parishioners.
Standing at a podium at the foot of the altar, Tobin said he accepted his appointment with “both shock and sadness” as he leaves his current job as the archbishop of Indianapolis. The relaxed Detroit native stood with a hand in his pocket as he cracked jokes, answered questions and showed off his ability to speak Spanish in a 47-minute press conference.
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