Skip to main content

Pope Francis appointee Frank Leo officially installed as new Archbishop of Toronto

Cardinal Thomas Collins delivers at online Good Friday service in an empty St. Michael's Cathedral in Toronto on Friday, April 10, 2020. Collins, who offered his resignation on his 75th birthday in January 2022, has been succeeded by bishop Frank Leo in a ceremony on Saturday, March 25. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Nathan Denette Cardinal Thomas Collins delivers at online Good Friday service in an empty St. Michael's Cathedral in Toronto on Friday, April 10, 2020. Collins, who offered his resignation on his 75th birthday in January 2022, has been succeeded by bishop Frank Leo in a ceremony on Saturday, March 25. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Nathan Denette
Share

The largest archdiocese in Canada's Catholic Church has a new man at the helm as of today.

About 1,200 people were expected to attend the mass of installation for Frank Leo, who now serves as Archbishop of Toronto.

The installation ceremony at St. Michael's Cathedral Basilica in downtown Toronto took place about six weeks after Pope Francis formally named Leo to the post.

Leo succeeds Cardinal Thomas Collins, who offered his resignation on his 75th birthday in January 2022 in compliance with a rule stating all bishops must offer to step down when they reach that age.

Leo was first named a Bishop in July 2022, making him one of Canada's newest appointees to such a role, and he was installed as Auxiliary Bishop of the Archdiocese of Montreal two months later.

He was born in Montreal in 1971 to Italian immigrant parents, entered the Grand Seminaire de Montreal in 1990 and was ordained a priest for service to the city's archdiocese in 1996.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published March 25, 2023.

CTVNews.ca Top Stories

Stay Connected