Archdiocese of Las Vegas holds Mass of Canonical Establishment for New Status as an Archdiocese

by Communications Office

LAS VEGAS (Oct. 16, 2023) - On October 16, 2023, the Apostolic Nuncio to the United States of America and personal representative of Our Holy Father Pope Francis, Christophe Cardinal Pierre, will be in Las Vegas for the imposition of the Pallium on Archbishop George Leo Thomas, Ph.D. and to formally acknowledge the Canonical Establishment of the Archdiocese of Las Vegas. This will take place during a special Mass at the Shrine of the Most Holy Redeemer at 2 p.m. (PST). Cardinal Pierre was recently appointed to the College of Cardinals during a Consistory where the creation of 21 new Cardinals took place in St. Peter's Square at the Vatican on September 30, 2023.

The Pallium is a woolen vestment worn on the shoulders by Archbishops and represents his jurisdictional authority as Metropolitan Archbishop. The Pallium symbolizes sheep being carried on the shoulders of the shepherd. Another symbol of the Pallium is the unity between the local Churches (the ecclesiastical Provinces) and the Provinces’ unity with the Holy See, and thus the Universal Church.

Archbishop George Leo Thomas, Ph.D. remarked, “We are grateful to Cardinal Pierre for gracing us with his presence and representing Pope Francis in this historic and beautiful liturgy. We are especially grateful to His Eminence for taking time out of his busy schedule after the Consistory to come to Las Vegas and to celebrate with us.” Archbishop Thomas added, “I am deeply honored and humbled by the sacred responsibility entrusted to me as the first Archbishop of Las Vegas.”

During the Mass of Canonical Establishment of the Metropolitan Archdiocese of Las Vegas, the Papal bull, the formal proclamation of the Pope, will be read by the Nuncio and processed throughout the Church by Archbishop Thomas, solemnly acknowledging the elevation of Las Vegas to the status of an Archdiocese and the Creation of the Ecclesiastical Province.

The last time a Diocese in the United States was elevated to the status of an Archdiocese occurred in 2004, under Pope John Paul II: on December 29, 2004, Pope John Paul II established a second Archdiocese in Texas, elevating the Diocese of Galveston-Houston to the status of a Metropolitan Archdiocese.