Richard_William_Smith
Richard William Smith
Canadian Catholic archbishop
Richard William Smith (born April 28, 1959) is a Canadian prelate of the Roman Catholic Church. He is the eighth and current Archbishop of Edmonton, having previously served as Bishop of Pembroke from 2002 to 2007.
Richard William Smith | |
|---|---|
| Archbishop of Edmonton President of the Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops | |
| See | Edmonton |
| Installed | May 1, 2007 |
| Predecessor | Thomas Christopher Collins |
| Successor | incumbent |
| Other post(s) | President of the Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops |
| Orders | |
| Ordination | May 23, 1987 |
| Consecration | June 18, 2002 |
| Personal details | |
| Born | (1959-04-28) April 28, 1959 (age 64) Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada |
| Nationality | Canadian |
| Denomination | Roman Catholic |
| Previous post(s) | Bishop of Pembroke (2002-2007) |
| Alma mater | |
| Motto |
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| Coat of arms |  |
| Styles of Richard William Smith | |
|---|---|
| Reference style | The Most Reverend |
| Spoken style | Your Grace |
| Religious style | Archbishop |
Smith was born in Halifax, Nova Scotia, and there studied at St. Mary's University and the Atlantic School of Theology.[1] He was ordained to the priesthood on May 23, 1987, and furthered his studies in Rome at the Pontifical Gregorian University, from which he earned a Licentiate (1993) and Doctorate in Sacred Theology (1998).[1]
Within the Archdiocese of Halifax, he served in a number of positions including vicar general and was responsible for the pastoral ministry of French-speaking Catholics in Halifax.[2] He was also a professor of theology at St. Peter's Seminary in London in addition to serving simultaneously as pastor of three communities.[3]
On April 27, 2002, Smith was appointed the seventh Bishop of Pembroke by Pope John Paul II. He received his episcopal consecration on the following June 18 from Archbishop Marcel Gervais, with Archbishops Terrence Prendergast, S.J., and Austin-Emile Burke serving as co-consecrators.[4]
He was later named the eighth Archbishop of Edmonton by Pope Benedict XVI on March 22, 2007, being formally installed on the following May 1.[4]
In the Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops, he has been a member of the English Sector Commission for Christian Education since 2003, and is its current Chairman.[2] He is also the national spiritual advisor of the Catholic Women's League of Canada, and President of the Ontario Conference of Catholic Bishops.[2]
In January 2016, Smith visited the Pallotine Province of the Assumption of the B.V.M. in Bangalore, India. Eight Pallotines of the province serve in the Archdiocese of Edmonton.[5]
- Palmo, Rocco (2007-03-22). "Bishop Smith Goes to Edmonton". Whispers in the Loggia.
- "Archbishop Richard William Smith". Catholic-Hierarchy.org.[self-published source]
- "Visit of Most Rev. Richard William Smith", ABVM Province, bangalorepallottines.com. Accessed April 24, 2022.
| Catholic Church titles | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by | Bishop of Pembroke 2002—2007 |
Succeeded by |
| Preceded by | Archbishop of Edmonton 2007–present |
Incumbent |