Pope Leo XIV has tapped a Corona, Queens, pastor as the next bishop of the Diocese of Palm Beach, Florida.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Rev. Manuel de Jes\u00fas Rodr\u00edguez of Our Lady of Sorrows will be the sixth bishop of the Diocese of Palm Beach, succeeding retiring Bishop Gerald Barbarito. Barbarito submitted his resignation when he turned 75, as required by the Vatican.<\/p>\n
Rodr\u00edguez introduced to new flock in Palm Beach<\/p>\n
Bishop-elect Rodr\u00edguez is expected to start in his new role early next year. He was introduced to his new flock at a press conference in Palm Beach earlier Friday<\/a>, and opened with a joke.\u00a0<\/p>\n “It is a great joy for me to be here,” Rodr\u00edguez said as he was introduced. “I come from the Diocese in Brooklyn, in New York. However, although my last name is Rodr\u00edguez, and although I was born in the Dominican Republic, where baseball is almost a religion, I wish to clarify at the outset that I am not cousin to Alex Rodriguez, or A-Rod as he is known.”\u00a0<\/p>\n He then said, with all respect to the Miami Marlins, he is a lifelong Yankees fan.\u00a0<\/p>\n Rodr\u00edguez said he found out about his appointment Sunday in a phone call.<\/p>\n “My reaction was one of utter disbelief,” he said. “Is this perhaps some kind of artificial intelligence, AI, prank or something of the sort?”<\/p>\n