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Gerald Frederick Kicanas

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His Excellency, The Most Reverend

Gerald Frederick Kicanas
Bishop Emeritus of Tucson
Bishop Kicanas in 2013.
ChurchRoman Catholic
DioceseTucson
AppointedOctober 30, 2001
InstalledMarch 7, 2003
RetiredOctober 3, 2017
PredecessorManuel Moreno
SuccessorEdward Weisenburger
Previous post(s)Auxiliary Bishop of Chicago and Titular Bishop of Bela (1995–2002)
Orders
OrdinationApril 27, 1967
by John Patrick Cody
ConsecrationMarch 20, 1995
by Joseph Bernardin, Alfred Leo Abramowicz, and Timothy Joseph Lyne
Personal details
Born (1941-08-18) August 18, 1941 (age 83)
Chicago, Illinois
MottoLa justicia promueve la paz
(Justice begets peace)
Styles of
Gerald Frederick Kicanas
Reference style
Spoken styleYour Excellency
Religious styleBishop

Gerald Frederick Kicanas (born August 18, 1941) is an American prelate of the Roman Catholic Church. He served as bishop of the Diocese of Tucson in Arizona from 2002 to 2017 and has been serving as the apostolic administrator of that Diocese since 2025. He was the apostolic administrator of the Diocese of Las Cruces in New Mexico from September 2018 to July 2019.

Biography

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Early life

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Gerald Kicanas was born on August 18, 1941, in Chicago, Illinois,[1] to Frederick and Eva Kicanas.[2] His ethnic background is Lebanese; his grandparents were born in Lebanon, and he was both baptized and confirmed in the Melkite Rite.[3] He attended Immaculate Heart Elementary School and Archbishop Quigley Preparatory Seminary in Chicago. Kicanas obtained his Licentiate in Sacred Theology from St. Mary of the Lake Seminary in Mundelein, Illinois.[1]

Priesthood

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Kicanas was ordained to the priesthood for the Archdiocese of Chicago at St. Mary of the Lake on April 27, 1967, by Cardinal John Patrick Cody.[4] He then earned a Doctor of Educational Psychology degree and a Master of Education degree in guidance and counseling from Loyola University Chicago.[2]

He worked as an associate pastor until 1978 and then held various offices at the archdiocesan seminary for over 25 years. He served as rector, principal, and dean of formation at Quigley Preparatory Seminary South in Chicago, and became rector of Mundelein Seminary at the University of St. Mary of the Lake in Mundelein, Illinois, in 1984.[4] While rector, he was a lecturer in community and organization development at Loyola.

Kicanas' other diocesan jobs included acting as director of the Catholic Chaplaincy Program of the Juvenile Temporary Detention Center in Chicago, as a caseworker for Catholic Charities, and as chaplain for the Chicago Parental School, a facility for troubled boys.

Auxiliary Bishop of Chicago

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On January 24, 1995, Pope John Paul II named Kicanas an auxiliary bishop of Chicago and titular bishop of Bela.[1] He received his episcopal consecration at Holy Name Cathedral in Chicago on March 20, 1995, from Cardinal Joseph Bernardin, with Bishops Alfred Abramowicz and Timothy Lyne serving as co-consecrators.[5] Kicanas chose to express his episcopal motto in both Spanish and English: "La Justicia Promueve La Paz" and "Justice begets peace", taken from Isaiah 32:17.[2]

During his tenure as an auxiliary bishop, Kicanas served as episcopal vicar for Vicariate I in the archdiocese, which includes Lake and Cook Counties. He also became involved with vocations, the permanent diaconate, and the encouragement of lay ministry.

During his Chicago years Kicanas was twice involved in managing the cases of priests accused of sexual abuse. While hampered in responding in detail by an ongoing court case, he acknowledged knowing of inappropriate behavior that he connected with immaturity or alcohol, and he said he would have responded more energetically had he known a minor was involved.[6][7] He also vigorously contested press reports for failing to cite sources and provide context.[8]

Bishop of Tucson

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Kicanas was named coadjutor bishop of Tucson on October 30, 2001,[1] and became bishop upon the resignation of Bishop Manuel Moreno on March 7, 2003.[9] The diocese had been beset by numerous claims of sexual abuse by priests and Kicanas was praised for managing the diocese's response, including using bankruptcy not to evade compensating victims but to establish a process for compensation.[10] The bankruptcy judge praised him, diocesan fundraising improved, and one expert on the US hierarchy called his work "a national model".[6]

On November 13, 2007, Kicanas was elected vice-president of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB), receiving 22 more votes than Archbishop Timothy Dolan.[11] On February 28, 2008, the USCCB elected Kicanas a member of its delegation to the twelfth World Synod of Bishops in Vatican City in October 2008.[12] In June 2009, Kicanas spoke at the annual meeting of the National Leadership Roundtable on Church Management at the Wharton School in Philadelphia. His talk addressed the need for effective communications in the Catholic Church.[13][14]

On November 16, 2010, Dolan defeated Kicanas in the vote for USCCB president.[15] It was the first time in USCCB history that a sitting vice president was not elected president.[16] According to an article in the Jesuit magazine America, conservative Catholic groups had mounted a strong lobbying campaign against Kicanas.[17][6] On November 17, 2010, Cardinal Francis George, outgoing USCCB president, appointed Kicanas as chair of the board of directors of Catholic Relief Services.[18]

Kicanas served as chair of the board of the Center for Applied Research in the Apostolate (CARA) in Washington, D.C., and was a member of the board of directors of the National Pastoral Life Center in New York City.

Retirement

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On October 3, 2017, Pope Francis accepted Kicanas' resignation as bishop of Tucson and named as his successor Bishop Edward J. Weisenburger.[19][20]

Kicanas assumed the duties of chair of the board of directors at the National Catholic Educational Association on January 1, 2018, replacing Bishop George V. Murry.[21] On September 28, 2018, Kicanas was named apostolic administrator of the Diocese of Las Cruces after Bishop Oscar Cantu was appointed bishop of the Diocese of San Jose.[22] His assignment there ended on July 23, 2019.[23]

In December 2021, Kicanas underwent successful open heart surgery at Banner University Medical Center in Tucson.[24][25]

On March 21, 2025, Kicanas was named apostolic administrator of the Diocese of Tucson after Weisenburger was appointed as the archbishop of Detroit.[26]

Honors and awards

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References

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  1. ^ a b c d "Rinunce e Nomine, 30.10.2001" (Press release) (in Italian). Holy See Press Office. Retrieved May 13, 2025.
  2. ^ a b c "Most Rev. Gerald F. Kicanas Bishop of Tucson". Diocese of Tucson. Archived from the original on December 14, 2010.
  3. ^ Allen Jr., John L. (January 15, 2010). "A downward spiral, but 'Christians will remain'". National Catholic Reporter. Retrieved May 13, 2025.
  4. ^ a b "Bishop Kicanas". Archdiocese of Milwaukee. Archived from the original on September 19, 2021. Retrieved November 24, 2023.
  5. ^ "Bishop Gerald Frederick Kicanas [Catholic-Hierarchy]". www.catholic-hierarchy.org. Retrieved 2023-11-24.
  6. ^ a b c Bradley Hagerty, Barbara (November 15, 2010). "Two Views Of Likely Catholic Leader". NPR. Retrieved May 14, 2025.
  7. ^ "Documents released: Bishop Kicanas named in priest sex scandal cover up". KOLD. January 24, 2014. Retrieved May 14, 2025.
  8. ^ Drake, Tim (November 12, 2010). "Bishop Kicanas Responds". National Catholic Register. Retrieved May 14, 2025.
  9. ^ Goodstein, Laurie (March 8, 2003). "Resignation of Bishop in Troubled Tucson Diocese Is Accepted". New York Times. Retrieved December 30, 2016.
  10. ^ White, Christopher (October 23, 2017). "Vintage 'Bernardin Bishop' says Pope Francis is vindicating his legacy". Retrieved May 13, 2025.
  11. ^ Allen Jr., John L. (November 13, 2007). "USCCB Day Two: Kicanas elected vice-president". Retrieved December 30, 2016.
  12. ^ "U.S. bishop delegates to World Synod appointed". Catholic News Agency. February 27, 2008. Retrieved December 30, 2016.
  13. ^ Gibson, David. "2009 Annual Meeting: Bishop Kicanas Speaks on Effective Church Communications". National Leadership Roundtable on Church Management. Archived from the original on December 31, 2016. Retrieved December 30, 2016.
  14. ^ Gerald Kicanas. "2009 Annual Meeting: Bishop Gerald Kicanas on effective communication". National Leadership Roundtable on Church Management. Archived from the original on January 1, 2017. Retrieved December 30, 2016.
  15. ^ Filteau, Jerry (November 16, 2010). "Spurning tradition, Bishops elect Dolan as new president". National Catholic Reporter. Archived from the original on January 1, 2017. Retrieved December 30, 2016.
  16. ^ Fox, Thomas C. (November 18, 2010). "U.S. bishops' rejection of Bishop Kicanas has got to hurt". National Catholic Reporter. Retrieved December 30, 2016.
  17. ^ "'Humbled' Dolan Downplays Election Results". America Magazine. November 16, 2010. Retrieved 2021-10-30.
  18. ^ "Bishop Kicanas of Tucson retires; pope names Kansas bishop his successor". National Catholic Reporter. Retrieved November 24, 2023.
  19. ^ "Resignations and Appointments, 03.10.2017" (Press release). Holy See Press Office. October 3, 2017. Retrieved May 13, 2025.
  20. ^ "Bishop Kicanas of Tucson retires; pope names Kansas bishop his successor". Catholic News Service. Archived from the original on October 3, 2017.
  21. ^ "NCEA Press Release". www.ncea.org. January 1, 2018. Archived from the original on 2018-01-21. Retrieved 2020-04-08.
  22. ^ "Pope temporarily appoints Bishop Emeritus to the Diocese of las Cruces". KRQE News. September 30, 2018. Retrieved November 23, 2023.
  23. ^ "Most Rev. Gerald Kicanas, Apostolic Administrator of Las Cruces (2018-2019)". Roman Catholic Diocese of Las Cruces. Retrieved November 23, 2023.
  24. ^ "Retired Bishop Kicanas of Tucson, Ariz., to undergo open heart surgery". Crux. 23 December 2021. Retrieved 2022-04-26.
  25. ^ "Bishop offers gratitude to those involved in his recent heart surgery". Crux. January 20, 2022. Retrieved April 26, 2022.
  26. ^ "Bishop Kicanas named Apostolic Administrator". Diocese of Tucson. Retrieved April 22, 2025.
  27. ^ "Bishop Kicanas of Tucson retires; pope names Kansas bishop his successor". Catholic News Service. June 10, 2020. Archived from the original on October 3, 2017. Retrieved November 23, 2023.
  28. ^ "Honorary Degree". University of Notre Dame. Archived from the original on August 13, 2011. Retrieved June 20, 2011.
  29. ^ Asher, Julie (June 15, 2018). "Bishop Kicanas wins England award, stresses Catholic press' critical role". Catholic News Service.
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Episcopal succession

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Catholic Church titles
Preceded by Bishop of Tucson
2003–2017 		Succeeded by
Preceded by
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 Auxiliary Bishop of Chicago
1995–2002 		Succeeded by
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