Pope Leo XIV has appointed Bishop Stephen A. Hero of Prince Albert as the new archbishop of Edmonton. The announcement follows the recent appointment of Father Susai Jesu as the new archbishop of Keewatin-Le Pas. Hero expressed gratitude and humility in a letter to the clergy and faithful of Edmonton. Hero, 56, was ordained in 2000 and previously served as bishop of Prince Albert. Hero's installation will take place on January 23, 2026, at St. Joseph’s Basilica in Edmonton.
19 days ago
Pope Leo XIV has recently appointed two new archbishops to dioceses in western Canada, signaling continued leadership transitions in the region.1
These appointments include Bishop Stephen A. Hero to Edmonton and Father Susai Jesu, OMI, to Keewatin-Le Pas, following earlier changes such as Archbishop Richard Smith's move to Vancouver in May.1
The announcements highlight the Pope's focus on experienced clergy with strong ties to local communities.1
Bishop Stephen A. Hero, 56, from Prince Albert, Saskatchewan, has been named the eighth archbishop of Edmonton.1
A native of Lachine, Quebec, Hero moved to Edmonton at age 10 and was ordained a priest there in 2000 after studies in British Columbia and Rome.1
He served in various roles, including vocations director, seminary rector, and teacher at Newman Theological College, before Pope Francis appointed him bishop of Prince Albert in 2021.1
Hero expressed humility and gratitude in a letter to Edmonton's clergy and faithful, noting the community's closeness to his heart.1
His installation is scheduled for January 23, 2026, at St. Joseph’s Basilica.1
Hero conveyed sadness about leaving Prince Albert, thanking its parishioners, clergy, and religious.1
He referenced the North Saskatchewan River as a symbol of shared connection and divine grace linking the dioceses.1
Hero will serve as diocesan administrator in Prince Albert until his Edmonton installation.1
His episcopal motto, “Deus Solus” (God Alone), from Psalm 86:10, emphasizes centering Christian life on God.1
Hero's updated coat of arms includes archiepiscopal symbols like a cross and tassels, with a black field for creation's finitude, a gold saltire for Christ's resurrection, turtledoves for St. Joseph, and 12 stars for Our Lady.1
Father Paul Kavanagh, Edmonton's administrator, welcomed Hero as “a gift from God” and pledged prayers and support upon his return home.1
Father Susai Jesu, OMI, 54, has been appointed archbishop of Keewatin-Le Pas in northern Saskatchewan and Manitoba.1
Born in 1971 in Pushpavanam, Tamil Nadu, India, Jesu joined the Missionary Oblates of Mary Immaculate and was ordained a priest in 2000.1
He earned degrees in psychology and counseling, arriving in Canada in 2007 at the Oblates' invitation.1
Jesu served in northern communities like Pelican Narrows and Sandy Bay, learning Cree and building friendships, before ministering in Edmonton at Sacred Heart Church of the First Peoples and various First Nations sites.1
Upon hearing of his appointment, Jesu reflected on Mary’s Magnificat, describing it as a humbling experience filled with gratitude and joy.1
His episcopal ordination is set for late January at Our Lady of the Sacred Heart Cathedral in The Pas, Manitoba.1
Jesu aims to serve the archdiocese's Metis, Cree, Oji-Cree, Dene, and non-Indigenous peoples across 280,000 square miles with faith and love, upholding the Oblate mission to the poor.1
Archbishop Murray Chatlain of Winnipeg, the apostolic administrator since 2024, praised Jesu's familiarity with the communities after seven years of service there.1
Kavanagh highlighted Jesu's pastoral gifts and dedication to accompanying Indigenous, Metis, and Inuit peoples.1
These appointments underscore a emphasis on leaders experienced in diverse, expansive Canadian dioceses, particularly those involving Indigenous ministries.1
Assess the historical precedent for appointing Canadian archbishops
The appointment of archbishops in Canada reflects a long tradition of papal authority guiding the development of the Catholic hierarchy in North America, evolving from the vast missionary territories under the Archdiocese of Quebec to a structured network of metropolitan sees. This process has been shaped by demographic growth, immigration, missionary efforts, and the Holy See's efforts to organize the Church amid colonial and national changes. Historically, appointments have been made directly by the Pope, often drawing from experienced clergy with local ties, international formation, or diplomatic service, ensuring fidelity to Catholic doctrine while addressing regional needs. Key precedents emerge from the 17th century onward, with elevations of sees occurring in response to population increases and the need for localized governance.
The Catholic presence in Canada traces back to French colonial times, with the Archdiocese of Quebec serving as the foundational see for what would become the Canadian hierarchy. Established in 1674 by papal bull, Quebec initially encompassed all French possessions in North America, including vast areas that later formed Canada. François de Montmorency Laval, the first bishop (consecrated in 1658 as Vicar Apostolic), exemplified early appointments: selected by the Holy See for his organizational skills, he overcame jurisdictional disputes with the Archbishop of Rouen to consolidate authority. Successors like Joseph-Octave Plessis (Bishop of Quebec from 1806) played pivotal roles in expanding the structure post-British conquest (1763), securing papal recognition and obtaining auxiliaries for emerging regions such as Upper Canada, Montreal, and the North-West. Plessis's efforts, aided by events like the War of 1812, led to the consecration of bishops like Alexander Macdonell (1820) for Upper Canada, under the condition they serve as vicars-general to Quebec due to British restrictions. This precedent established that appointments prioritized missionary zeal and administrative competence, often from French or Irish clergy familiar with the territory, while deferring full metropolitan status until political stability allowed.
Quebec's elevation to a metropolis in 1844, with suffragan sees including Kingston, Montreal, and Toronto, marked a turning point. Pierre-Flavien Turgeon, appointed coadjutor in 1834 and archbishop in 1850, presided over the First Council of Quebec (1851), underscoring how appointments facilitated synodal governance. This era set a pattern: the Pope, informed by reports from incumbents, appointed archbishops to foster unity, education, and evangelization amid growing Catholic populations from Irish immigration and Acadian restoration.
The 19th century saw rapid proliferation of dioceses and archdioceses, driven by immigration and westward expansion, with appointments reflecting the Holy See's strategy to decentralize from Quebec. The Diocese of Toronto, erected in 1841 from Kingston, was elevated to archdiocese in 1870, with Kingston (established 1826) and Hamilton (1856) as suffragans. Michael Power, the first Bishop of Toronto (consecrated 1842), was a Halifax native and Vicar-General of Montreal, appointed for his educational and pastoral experience; he died serving Irish immigrants during the typhus epidemic of 1847. His successor, Armand-François-Marie de Charbonnel, a French Oblate, continued this trend of selecting missionaries with international ties.
Similarly, Halifax, part of Quebec until its vicariate status in 1817, became a diocese in 1842 and archdiocese in 1852. William Walsh, coadjutor to William Fraser, succeeded as archbishop, highlighting the use of coadjutors "with right of succession" to ensure continuity—a recurring precedent. In the west, St. Boniface (1847) and Vancouver's precursors evolved into the Archdiocese of Victoria (1904) and Vancouver (1908), with Oblate leaders like Joseph Dontenwill appointed for their frontier expertise. Dontenwill's brief tenure as Vancouver's first archbishop (1908) before becoming Superior General of the Oblates illustrates how appointments balanced local needs with broader Church roles.
Kingston's elevation to archdiocese in 1889, with Peterborough (1882) and later Alexandria (1890) as suffragans, followed similar lines. John Vincent Cleary, consecrated in 1880 after academic service in Ireland, became the first archbishop, emphasizing scholarly formation as a qualification. Ottawa's rise to archdiocese in 1886 further decentralized authority. Overall, this period's precedents show papal appointments responding to "rapidly increasing numbers of Catholic inhabitants," often elevating trusted bishops from within Canada or Europe, while incorporating religious orders like Jesuits and Oblates for missionary support.
Across these developments, several consistent precedents emerge. First, the Holy See's direct involvement ensured canonical fidelity; elevations required papal briefs, as with Toronto (1870) and Kingston (1889). Second, appointees were typically ordained priests with proven pastoral records: many, like Plessis (114 priests ordained) or Power (education advocate), had seminary or diplomatic experience. International formation was common—e.g., studies in Rome for early missionaries—preparing them for multicultural contexts.
British colonial constraints initially limited titles (e.g., Plessis forgoing "archbishop" until 1819), but post-Confederation (1867), appointments gained freedom, as seen in Quebec's metropolitan status (1844). Immigration waves influenced selections: Irish clergy dominated in Ontario (e.g., Collins's predecessors), while French Oblates led in the west. Acadian restoration efforts, led by priests like Jean-Mandé Sigogne in Nova Scotia, indirectly shaped appointments by highlighting needs for bilingual, culturally sensitive leaders.
Controversies arose over education and politics; bishops like Signay opposed Protestant-controlled schools, influencing papal choices for doctrinally firm appointees. No major divergences exist in sources, but recent ones take precedence: modern biographies confirm continuity, with Popes like Francis appointing based on curial service (e.g., Frank Leo's role in the Canadian Episcopal Conference before Toronto in 2023). Leo, created cardinal in 2024, and predecessor Thomas Collins (appointed 2006, resigned 2023) both had extensive Canadian episcopal experience, echoing 19th-century patterns.
In the 20th century and beyond, precedents adapted to urbanization and secularization. Pope John Paul II's 1983 address to Canadian bishops praised their fidelity in education, family life, and evangelization, implicitly endorsing appointments that prioritize these areas. Vancouver's growth under Neil McNeil (1910), with emphasis on schools and Indian missions, reflects ongoing focus on indigenous and immigrant outreach. Today, as with Leo's appointment amid Toronto's transition from Collins, the process involves consultation via nuncios, favoring candidates with synodal experience (e.g., Collins's roles in bishops' conferences).
While sources up to 1908 dominate historical details, 2025 biographies affirm that papal discretion remains central, with no overreach into national politics post-Confederation. If sources lack specifics on post-1908 elevations (e.g., Edmonton or Winnipeg), they align with the pattern of responsive, doctrinally sound selections.
In summary, the historical precedent for Canadian archbishops underscores papal authority in erecting sees and appointing leaders from seasoned clergy, adapting to growth while upholding evangelization and unity. This tradition continues to guide the Church in addressing contemporary challenges like secularism and diversity.