(Washington DC, United States of America) – The US Bishops’ Conference (USCCB) has confirmed that Cardinal Joseph Tobin of Newark has been appointed by Pope Francis to attend the 25th Ordinary General Assembly of the Synod of Bishops, which will meet to discuss young people, the faith, and the vocational discernment.
According to the press release by USCCB on July 23, Cardinal Tobin will join Cardinal Daniel DiNardo, Archbishop José H. Gomez, Archbishop Charles J. Chaput, Bishop Frank J. Caggiano and Bishop Robert E. Barron, who were elected by the US Bishops’ Conference to participate in the Synod.
After the USCBC published the press release on its website, Tobin’s name was added, a USCCB spokesperson confirmed.
The Cardinal’s name is listed among those who were elected by the bishops’ conference as of August 25. However, a USCCB spokesperson told CNA that Tobin was, in fact, “named a delegate by Pope Francis after the Pope accepted the delegates elected by the USCCB.”
Cardinal Tobin is the chairman of the USCCB’s Committee clergy, Consecrated life and Vocations. He was Superior General of the Redemptorists, his religious congregation from 1997 to 2009. He was Secretary of the Vatican’s Congregation for Institutes of Consecrated Life and Societies of Apostolic Life from 2010 to 2012.
The synod will be held from 3rd to 28th of October 2018.
