Oscar Solis was installed as the new Bishop of the Diocese of Salt Lake City Tuesday afternoon at the Cathedral of the Madeleine.
The mass began with what the Cathedral of the Madeleine is known for: choral music.
Christophe Pierre, Apostolic Nuncio to the United States, read the Apostolic Letter from Pope Francis, installing Solis as Bishop. Followed by the installation ceremony. And more music.
“I feel like I never left Los Angeles. [It] sounded like Hollywood," Solis said as it came time to speak.
Clearly a fan of the music. Bishop Solis comes fromthe Archdiocese of Los Angeles where he served as an auxiliary bishop.
He spoke in a lighthearted tone and emphasized a spirit of inclusion. Pointing to the diversity of the Catholic community.
“Representing people’s of every race, ethnicity, cultural background, social status, income level or even sexual orientation," Solis said.
Solis also referred to the community in Utah as an immigrant church. And during his remarks spoke partly in both Spanish and Tagalog, the language of his native country, The Philippines.
He also acknowledged the long wait, nearly two years, that Utah catholics have waited for Pope Francis to name a new bishop.
Bishop John Wester left Salt Lake in 2015 to become the Archbishop of Santa Fe. Solis asked that their expectations not be too high.
“May I remind you of my name, it is Oscar Solis. Not Jesus Christ." Solis said as the crowd laughed.
Solis is Salt Lake City’s 10th Bishop and the first ever Filipino-American Bishop ordained in the U.S.
