Bishop Cirilo Flores of Orange, 63, named as coadjutor of San Diego,

Pope Benedict named Auxiliary Bishop Cirilo Flores of Orange, 63, as coadjutor of San Diego, the nation's eighth-largest city, now home to over a million Catholics.

A graduate of Stanford Law, Flores (above) becomes heir apparent to Bishop Robert Brom, 73.

Ordained a priest at 43 for the Orange church after a decade in private practice, Flores spent 18 years in parish work before his 2009 appointment as auxiliary bishop of Orange.
 

With over 9 million Catholics between them, Los Angeles and San Diego comprise the largest of the American church's 33 metropolitan regions.

According to late word from San Diego and Orange both, Flores' Mass of Welcome will take place on Monday, 13 February, at a location yet to be announced. Regardless of rites, however, the appointment is effective immediately.

From the United States Conference of Bishops

Pope Names Bishop Cirilo Flores Coadjutor Bishop of San Diego