RALEIGH, N.C. (AP) - An auxiliary bishop in Georgia has been chosen to lead Roman Catholics in eastern North Carolina.
Local media outlets reported that Pope Francis has selected Bishop Luis Rafael Zarama of Atlanta to take over as the new bishop of the Diocese of Raleigh.
The 58-year-old Zarama is from Colombia and will become the sixth bishop of the Diocese of Raleigh. Zarama is to be installed at the new Holy Name of Jesus Cathedral on Aug. 29.
The vacancy in Raleigh was created last year when Pope Francis appointed Bishop Michael Burbidge as the bishop of the Diocese of Arlington, Virginia.
Burbidge had led the Raleigh Diocese since 2006.
Zarama had been an auxiliary bishop in Atlanta since 2009.
Archbishop Wilton Gregory of Atlanta praised Zarama’s selection for the Raleigh position.
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