WASHINGTON (January 15, 2005)-Pope John Paul II has accepted the resignation of Archbishop James P. Keleher of Kansas City in Kansas. Most Reverend Joseph F. Naumann, who was named Coadjutor Archbishop a year ago, will now become Ordinary of that See.

Archbishop Gabriel Montalvo, Apostolic Nuncio to the United States, made the announcement.

James P. Keleher was born in Chicago on July 31, 1931. He studied at Loyola University and St. Mary of the Lake Seminary in Mundelein, Il., and was ordained a priest of the Chicago archdiocese, April 12, 1958.

Appointed Bishop of Belleville October 23, 1984, Archbishop Keleher was appointed Archbishop of Kansas City in Kansas on June 28, 1993 and installed on September 8, 1993.

Archbishop Keleher has served as Treasurer of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops since November, 2002.

Joseph F. Naumann was born June 4, 1949, in St. Louis. He studied at Kenrick seminary there and was ordained a priest of the Archdiocese of St. Louis on May 24, 1975.

Appointed Titular Bishop of Capocilla and Auxiliary Bishop of St. Louis July 9, 1997, he was named Coadjutor Archbishop of Kansas City in Kansas on January 7, 2004 and installed on March 19, 2004.

The Archdiocese of Kansas City in Kansas was established as a Vicariate Apostolic on July 19, 1850. It became the Diocese of Leavenworth on May 22, 1877. The See was changed to the Diocese of Kansas City in Kansas May 10, 1947. It was created as an archdiocese on August 9, 1952.

The Archdiocese of Kansas City in Kansas has a Catholic population of 191,203 in a total population of about 1.2 million.

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