Auxiliary Bishop Robert Barron, of Los Angeles, has been appointed as the new bishop of Winona-Rochester, replacing Bishop John Quinn who, at 76, has retired.

“I am overjoyed and humbled to receive this new assignment as the ninth bishop of Winona-Rochester,” Barron said in a release this week. “I look forward immensely to getting to know the good people, priests, and pastoral ministers of the diocese.” The installation Mass is set for July 29.

Barron is a Midwest native, having grown up in Detroit and the Chicago areas. He was ordained a priest on May 24, 1986.

“I will have to brush off my Chicago winter coat, which has remained unused for the past six years in Santa Barbara!” Barron said in the release. “My fondest hope is that I might be a good spiritual father to all the Catholics of southern Minnesota." 

Pope Francis announced the appointment this week.

“I am filled with joy that Pope Francis has appointed Bishop Robert Barron as the 9th Bishop of the Diocese of Winona-Rochester,” Quinn said in the release. “His commitment to evangelization and missionary discipleship will bear great fruit in the coming years.”

Barron began his Word on Fire Catholic Ministries more than 20 years ago, sharing the Gospel with his more than 3.1 million Facebook followers, 517,000 YouTube subscribers, 349,000 Instagram followers, and 198,000 Twitter followers, the release said. He is the first priest since Venerable Archbishop Fulton Sheen to have a regular national television program.

Quinn resigned after leading the Diocese of Winona-Rochester for 13 years, a release on CatholicReview.org said this week. Bishops are required to submit their resignation at the age of 75.