John Dolan, the new bishop of the Diocese of Phoenix, said that during his first year as bishop, before taking action he plans to gather input from those who have been in the diocese longer than him.

“I think I'm going to simply listen to the people around me...and really get a broad prospective on what the Diocese of Phoenix is all about,” he said in a Facebook video posted this week. “And after a period of listening, maybe listen some more before I act. So I come without any particular plan, except to just listen and to communicate.” 

Pope Francis appointed Dolan—then an auxiliary bishop in San Diego—to be the fifth bishop of the Diocese of Phoenix in June, the diocese announced on Facebook previously. Dolan said he is grateful for the appointment and looks forward to meeting the people of Phoenix. 

Dolan replaced Bishop Thomas Olmsted, who had headed the Diocese of Phoenix since 2003. 

“To the men and women, religious deacons and wives, priests, lay faithful and bishops in Phoenix, I promise my heartfelt love and prayer as we journey together toward proclaiming the good news of Jesus,” Dolan said at a June press conference that was covered by American Magazine. “He is the Lord. He is our shepherd. He is our brother and our friend. And he promises us the joys of his peaceable kingdom here and in the life to come.”

Dolan started serving as the auxiliary bishop of the Diocese of San Diego in 2017, the diocese said in a June release. His installation Mass is scheduled for early August,