LOUISVILLE, Ky. — The Archdiocese of Louisville appointed its next Archbishop Tuesday.
Outgoing Archbishop of Louisville, Joseph Kurtz introduced his successor. Kurtz is retiring at age 75, as required by the Catholic Church.
58-year-old Shelton Fabre will take over the Archdiocese of Louisville officially in March.
“We’ve had only nine bishops, so we don’t do this every other year,” Archbishop Kurtz said.
In fact, not only will Shelton Fabre will be the 10th bishop also the fifth archbishop in the Archdiocese of Louisville’s 200 year history.
“It’s a great great gift that we received today when our Holy Father Pope Francis named Shelton Joseph Fabre as the 10th bishop and fifth archbishop of Louisville,” Kurtz said.
Fabre comes to Louisville from Baton Rouge, Louisiana. Fabre has served as bishop of the Diocese of Houma-Thibodaux since 2013. Before being named as bishop, Fabre was ordained as an auxiliary bishop for the Archdiocese of New Orleans in 2007. Prior to that, he served as a priest in the Diocese of Baton Rouge and as director of the Office of Black Catholics for the Diocese of Baton Rouge from 1990 to 2005.
“I am both humbled and excited by this appointment by the Holy Father,” Fabre told reporters.
Fabre is now Louisville’s first African American archbishop.
“You are correct, I am a Black bishop and so certainly Black Catholics would resonate with my heart,” Fabre said.
During his first public appearance, Fabre spoke to the civil unrest experienced in Louisville and how the Catholic Church factors in.
“I think I bring to the table in regards to healing from racial injustice, a heart that is willing to listen… a desire to advance the Kingdom of God and to get all of us in our racial diversity to understand that we are stronger when we are together.”
Archbishop Fabre was also asked if he would be “welcoming,” to members of Louisville’s LGBTQ community.
“Well I stand ready, certainly, to meet and to listen. I think as the Church says, we respect the human life and the human dignity of each and every single person. I hope that they would find in me someone who is willing to listen to them, someone willing to journey with them,” Fabre said.
Archbishop Fabre also had a message for Kentuckians affected by the December 10 tornado outbreak.
“Please know of my heartfelt prayers for all those affected as I offer my assurance of support to the ongoing relief. May the Lord bring comfort to his people.”
The Louisville archdiocese includes 24 Kentucky counties and counts over 200,000 Catholics as members.