Nelson J. Pérez

Nelson Jesus Pérez (born June 16, 1961) is an American prelate of the Catholic Church who serves as the 10th Archbishop of Philadelphia, having been appointed by Pope Francis in January 2020.[1] He previously served as Bishop of Cleveland from 2017 to 2020 and as an auxiliary bishop of the Diocese of Rockville Centre from 2012 to 2017.

His Excellency, The Most Reverend

Nelson Jesus Pérez
Archbishop of Philadelphia
ChurchCatholic Church
SeeArchdiocese of Philadelphia
AppointedJanuary 23, 2020
InstalledFebruary 18, 2020
PredecessorCharles J. Chaput
Orders
OrdinationMay 20, 1989
by Anthony Joseph Bevilacqua
ConsecrationJuly 25, 2012
by William Murphy, Charles J. Chaput, and Paul Henry Walsh
Personal details
Born (1961-06-16) June 16, 1961
Miami, Florida, USA
Previous post(s)
MottoConfide et spera
(Trust and hope)
Styles of
Nelson Jesus Perez
Reference style
Spoken styleYour Excellency
Religious styleArchbishop

Biography

Early life and education

Nelson Pérez was born in Miami, Florida, on June 16, 1961, to David and Emma Pérez. His parents were exiles from Cuba.[2] When Nelson Pérez was a child, the family moved to West New York, New Jersey. He attended P.S. Number 4 and Memorial High School in West New York. Pérez earned a Bachelor of Arts degree from Montclair State University in Montclair, New Jersey, in 1983, then went to Puerto Rico to teach at Colegio La Piedad, a Catholic elementary school in Carolina. He then entered Philadelphia's St. Charles Borromeo Seminary where he earned a Master of Arts and a Master of Divinity degree in 1988 and 1989 respectively.[3]

Ordination and priesthood

Pérez was ordained to the priesthood by Cardinal Anthony Bevilacqua for the Archdiocese of Philadelphia on May 20, 1989. After his ordination, Pérez was appointed curate at Saint Ambrose Parish in Philadelphia. In 1993, he left this position to become the founding director of the Catholic Institute for Evangelization in Philadelphia.[3]

In 1994, Pérez assumed the additional job of teaching psychology and religious studies at LaSalle University in Philadelphia, working there until 2008. In 1998, Pérez was named a Chaplain of His Holiness by Pope John Paul II with the title of monsignor.[3]

In 2002, Pérez left his position at the Catholic Institute to become pastor of Saint William Parish in Philadelphia. The archdiocese moved him in 2009 to serve as pastor of Saint Agnes Parish in West Chester, Pennsylvania. That same year, Pérez was named a Prelate of Honour of His Holiness by Pope Benedict XVI.[3]

Auxiliary Bishop of Rockville Centre
Coat of Arms as Auxiliary Bishop of Rockville Centre

On June 8, 2012, Pérez was appointed titular bishop of Catrum and auxiliary bishop of the Diocese of Rockville Center by Pope Benedict XVI.[4] He received his episcopal consecration by Bishop William Murphy on July 25, 2012. Pérez was appointed episcopal vicar for the Hispanic Ministry, overseeing fifty-four parishes.[3]

Bishop of Cleveland
Coat of Arms as Bishop of Cleveland

On July 11, 2017, Pope Francis appointed Pérez as the 11th bishop of the Diocese of Cleveland.[5][6] He was installed on September 5, 2017.

In 2018, Pérez protested the Trump administration policy of separating the children of undocumented immigrant families from their parents, saying that we had lost our moral compass.[7]

Archbishop of Philadelphia

Pérez was named archbishop of the Archdiocese of Philadelphia on January 23, 2020, by Pope Francis, succeeding Archbishop Charles J. Chaput. His installation Mass was celebrated on February 18, 2020.[8] He is the first Hispanic American bishop of Philadelphia.[9]

See also

References
  1. "Cleveland bishop named Philadelphia's next archbishop". Retrieved January 23, 2020.
  2. O’Connell, Gerard (January 23, 2020). "Pope Francis appoints Bishop Perez, son of Cuban exiles, as new archbishop of Philadelphia". America. Retrieved April 4, 2020.
  3. "BIOGRAPHICAL INFORMATION MOST REVEREND NELSON J. PÉREZ, D.D" (PDF). Archdiocese of Philadelphia. Retrieved April 24, 2022.
  4. "Rinunce e Nomine, 08.06.2012" (Press release) (in Italian). Holy See Press Office. June 8, 2012. Retrieved January 24, 2020.
  5. "Resignations and Appointments, 11.07.2017" (Press release). Holy See Press Office. July 11, 2017. Retrieved January 24, 2020.
  6. "Pope Francis Names Bishop Nelson Perez as New Bishop of Cleveland; Pope also Names Father Andrew Bellisario as New Bishop of Juneau". Retrieved July 11, 2017.
  7. Bamforth, Emily; clevel; .com (2018-06-20). "Cleveland Bishop Nelson Perez on immigration policy separating families: 'human rights cross borders'". cleveland. Retrieved 2022-04-24.
  8. Roebuck, Jeremy (23 January 2020). "Bishop Nelson Perez of Cleveland named Philadelphia's next archbishop, replacing Charles Chaput". The Philadelphia Inquirer. Retrieved January 23, 2020.
  9. "Cuban-American becomes first Hispanic archbishop of Philadelphia". Archdiocese of Miami. January 23, 2020. Retrieved April 4, 2020.
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