Pope Leo XIV Appoints Bishop Michael Pham in San Diego

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News Summary

In a historic move, Pope Leo XIV has appointed Bishop Michael Pham as the new bishop of San Diego, the first American bishop appointed by the Pope. Pham, a refugee from Vietnam, previously served as an auxiliary bishop and is the first Vietnamese American bishop in the U.S. His leadership is expected to strengthen community ties and address the needs of 1.3 million Catholics in the diocese.

San Diego, California – In a historic decision, Pope Leo XIV has appointed Bishop Michael Pham as the new bishop of San Diego, marking the Pope’s first appointment of an American bishop. This significant move comes after the vacancy left by Cardinal Robert McElroy, who was appointed archbishop of Washington D.C. earlier this year.

Bishop Pham, who is 58 years old, has previously served as an auxiliary bishop in the same diocese. His appointment is notable not only for its timing but also for its representation; Pham is the third Asian American and the first Vietnamese American bishop to lead a diocese in the United States. The Diocese of San Diego serves a congregation of approximately 1.3 million Catholics within a total population of about 3.5 million people, covering an area of 8,900 square miles that encompasses 96 parishes and 13 missions.

Born in Da Nang, Vietnam, Pham became a refugee at the age of 13 in 1980 and arrived in the United States via a refugee camp in Malaysia. Sponsored by an American family, he settled in Blue Earth, Minnesota, in 1981 before eventually moving to San Diego in 1985. Pham’s educational path included earning a bachelor’s degree from San Diego State University and beginning a master’s program in aeronautical engineering, which he later switched for seminary training at St. Francis Seminary at the University of San Diego.

After completing his seminary education at St. Patrick’s Seminary in Menlo Park, where he earned a baccalaureate in systematic theology and a master of divinity degree, Pham was ordained a priest in the San Diego diocese on June 25, 1999. His early ministry involved serving as an associate pastor at St. Mary Star of the Sea Parish, after which he took on various responsibilities, including diocesan vocations director, pastor of multiple parishes, and vicar for ethnic and intercultural communities within the diocese.

Since March of this year, Pham has acted as the main diocesan administrator following Cardinal McElroy’s appointment to Washington D.C. His leadership during this interim period has likely prepared him for his new role as bishop.

Before Pham’s election, Cardinal Robert Prevost, who oversaw the Vatican’s bishops office, conducted the review process necessary for his appointment. The timing of Pham’s selection alongside another appointment on the same day highlights a continued effort within the Catholic Church to diversify leadership roles. Pope Leo XIV also named Sister Tiziana Merletti as the second-in-command in the Vatican’s congregation for religious orders, marking a commitment to promoting women in decision-making positions within the Holy See.

This new chapter for the Diocese of San Diego under Bishop Pham’s leadership is anticipated to further strengthen community ties, embrace diversity, and engage with the growing needs of its congregation, reflecting the values of inclusivity and service fundamental to the Catholic faith.