Pope Francis Appoints Bishop Timothy Senior Twelfth Bishop of the Diocese of Harrisburg

WASHINGTON – Pope Francis has accepted the resignation of Bishop Ronald W. Gainer, 75, from the pastoral governance of the Diocese of Harrisburg, and has appointed Bishop Timothy C. Senior, auxiliary bishop of Philadelphia, as his successor. 

The resignation and appointment were publicized in Washington, D.C. on April 25, 2023, by Archbishop Christophe Pierre, apostolic nuncio to the United States.

Bishop Larry J. Kulick of the Diocese of Greensburg, released the following statement on the appointment:

“I would like to sincerely congratulate Bishop-Designate Timothy C. Senior on his appointment as Twelfth Bishop of the Diocese of Harrisburg. I have come to know and appreciate him for his outstanding leadership, first as Rector, and then as Chancellor of Saint Charles Borromeo Seminary, where many of our own seminarians have received theological formation.

He’s pictured here to my left at the ordination of Father Christopher Pujol last year.

Bishop-Designate Senior has also served as Auxiliary Bishop of Philadelphia since 2009, and during that time, I have come to admire his work with the Pennsylvania Catholic Conference, the public policy arm of the eight dioceses in Pennsylvania.

To Bishop Gainer, who has served as the Eleventh Bishop of the Diocese of Harrisburg for the last nine years, I extend my deepest appreciation for his exceptional leadership and service as President of the Pennsylvania Catholic Conference. Throughout his time in Harrisburg, we have always had a collaborative and cordial relationship. As is required by Canon Law, he submitted his resignation upon turning 75 years of age last year. This morning, the Holy Father accepted that resignation in connection with the appointment of the new Bishop-Designate.

My prayers are with both Bishop-Designate Senior and Bishop Gainer, as well as the faithful of the Diocese of Harrisburg during this period of transition.”

The Diocese of Harrisburg is comprised of 7,660 square miles in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and has a total population of 2,334,337, of which 206,072 are Catholic.