From left, Bishop Jeffrey Monforton, newly appointed auxiliary bishop for the Archdiocese of Detroit, and Bishop Emeritus Paul Bradley, newly appointed apostolic administrator of the Diocese of Steubenville, at Thursday’s press conference to announce the changes directed by the Vatican. (Photo by Christopher Dacanay)

STEUBENVILLE — The bishop of the Diocese of Steubenville has been appointed to a post in Detroit, the diocese announced Thursday.

Bishop Jeffrey M. Monforton is going to the Archdiocese of Detroit as the 32nd auxiliary bishop and will assist Archbishop Allen H. Vigneron. Bishop Emeritus Paul J. Bradley, former bishop of the Diocese of Kalamazoo, Mich., will serve as the Steubenville diocese’s apostolic administrator.

Both appointments, immediately effective, were announced by Pope Francis Thursday morning. Both bishops said no supporting reason was given by Francis for the appointments.

The two discussed their new roles during a press conference at the Steubenville diocese. Virtually joining the meeting were representatives of the dioceses of Columbus and Kalamazoo, Mich.

Monforton said the appointment was “bittersweet,” weighing his excitement about returning to his hometown of Detroit with his disappointment at leaving Steubenville where he became bishop on Sept. 10, 2012.

“I have come to know and to love the good people of the Diocese of Steubenville,” Monforton said. “It has been my distinct pleasure and profound joy to serve the faithful of this diocese. (They) will always remain in my prayers and have a special place in my heart.”

Thirty-one priests are active in the Diocese of Steubenville in its 13-county service area of Washington, Athens, Meigs, Noble, Belmont, Carroll, Gallia, Guernsey, Harrison, Jefferson, Lawrence, Morgan and Monroe. About 40,000 Catholics are in the diocese.

Bradley, who is 77 and whose age-mandated request for retirement was accepted by Pope Francis in May, was grateful the pope allowed him to continue serving the church in Steubenville. He previously was bishop of the Kalamazoo Diocese for 14 years and was auxiliary bishop in the Diocese of Pittsburgh for five years before that.

Bradley said that during his retired ministry, he had wondered whether there was more he could be doing to serve. In a display of how God answers prayers in unexpected ways, Bradley said he received a call last week from the Vatican’s apostolic nuncio to the United States, Cardinal-elect Christophe Pierre, with the news of the pope’s appointment.

An apostolic administrator temporarily fills a vacant episcopal see and possesses the powers and obligations of the bishop until a permanent replacement is appointed.

Bradley said he does not have any goals or concerns regarding the diocese. However, he said he hopes to learn from others, visiting with all of the priests in the diocese and possibly performing parish visits to “hear concerns people have and work to accomplish solutions.”

The diocese was formed on Oct. 21, 1944. Its first bishop, John King Mussio, was installed on May 23, 1945. Monforton was the diocese’s fifth bishop, having replaced R. Daniel Conlon.