Cleveland's Catholic Diocese welcomes new bishop

CLEVELAND (AP) - Cleveland’s nearly 700,000 Roman Catholics on Monday were welcoming a new bishop from Pennsylvania during an installation Mass at the Cathedral of St. John the Evangelist.

Bishop Edward Malesic, 60, served five years as bishop of Greensburg, Pennsylvania, until Pope Francis in July named him to succeed Nelson Perez, who became archbishop of Philadelphia.

The installation has been scaled down due to the coronavirus pandemic and will be livestreamed.

The Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, native was ordained to the priesthood in 1987.

When he was introduced to the Cleveland Diocese in July, Malesic said he hoped to draw younger people back to the church.

He said he thought the church has become more transparent in protecting children from sexual abuse among priests and he said the church does not tolerate such abuse.

Malesic also said he needed to adjust his football loyalty from Pittsburgh to Cleveland. He asked his new flock to give him time to “make the transition from the Steelers to the Browns.”

The Cleveland Diocese covers Cuyahoga, Summit, Lorain, Lake, Geauga, Medina, Wayne and Ashland counties.