Pope Francis has named Allentown Bishop John Barres as the next bishop of Rockville Centre, New York.
Barres will succeed 76-year-old Bishop William Murphy, who submitted his resignation in 2015 as required by church law when he turned 75. Murphy led the diocese since 2001.
Barres has be the shepherd of Roman Catholics in the Allentown diocese since July 2009.
The 56-year-old will be installed on Jan. 31.
The Rockville Centre Diocese consists of Nassau and Suffolk counties on Long Island.
Copyright AP - Associated Press
