Excerpt of Cardinal Seán P. O'Malley's prepared remarks at the June 30 press conference announcing two new auxiliary bishops of Boston

Today is an important day in the life of the Church of Boston. Our Holy Father, Pope Benedict XVI, has made three significant announcements.

In the first place, he has announced that he has accepted the resignation of Bishop Emilio Allue, Auxiliary Bishop of Boston. Bishop Allue has served the Church faithfully as a Priest for over forty years, and since 1996 he has served the Archdiocese of Boston as an Auxiliary Bishop, most recently as Episcopal Vicar for the Hispanic Apostolate. I wish to thank Bishop Allue for his many years of service, especially for his care and devotion to the Spanish-speaking Catholics of the archdiocese.

Unfortunately Bishop Allue is unable to be with us today as he is currently in Italy/Spain for meetings and to visit with family. May God continue to bless Bishop Allue with a missionary heart and good health, so that he may enjoy his years of retirement!

The Holy Father has also made two other important announcements today. Recognizing the size of the Archdiocese of Boston, and the important ministry we provide every day, he has announced that Father Arthur Kennedy and Father Peter Uglietto have been named Auxiliary Bishops of Boston. I know you join me in congratulating them on this momentous occasion.

I am most grateful to our Holy Father Pope Benedict who has recognized in them the qualities necessary to be Bishops in the Church. I am also very grateful to Bishops-elect Kennedy and Uglietto for their willingness to accept the Holy Father's call to serve.

I want to acknowledge the presence of so many priests who have come here today. The Archdiocese of Boston is blessed with wonderful Priests -- and I thank God every day for the gift of the Priests who serve with me and serve the People of God in humility and love. Bishops-elect Kennedy and Uglietto are two fine examples of what the true face of the Priesthood is in the Archdiocese of Boston.

I am impressed with the number of Seminarians who have come to share our joy today. Both Bishops-Elect have most recently served as rectors of two of the Seminaries in the Archdiocese: Bishop-elect Kennedy as Rector of the Archdiocesan Seminary, St. John's in Brighton; and Bishop-elect Uglietto as Rector of Blessed John XXIII National Seminary in Weston. The presence of so many seminarians speaks eloquently of the deep affection and esteem that the men hold for you. The archdiocese is blessed with great seminarians.