Cardinal to be installed as leader of Newark Diocese

NEWARK — The 1.5 million Roman Catholics in the Newark archdiocese are preparing to welcome a cardinal as their new shepherd.

A Mass will be celebrated Friday to install Joseph Cardinal Tobin as the sixth archbishop of Newark. Tobin succeeds Archbishop John Myers, who reached the mandatory retirement age of 75 in July.

Meyers has been criticized for allegedly mishandling sex-abuse cases and spending lavishly on his retirement home.

Pope Francis elevated Tobin to cardinal in November.

Tobin was the archbishop of Indianapolis, where he opposed then-Indiana Gov. Mike Pence, who wanted to prevent Syrian refugees from settling in the state. Pence is now vice president-elect.

The Newark archdiocese serves Roman Catholics in Bergen, Essex, Hudson and Union counties. About 20 percent are Latino and nearly as many are black.

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