Richard W. Smith

His Grace, The Most Reverend Richard W. Smith
Archbishop-designate of Vancouver
See	Vancouver
Predecessor	J. Michael Miller
Previous post(s)	Bishop of Pembroke (2002–2007) Archbishop of Edmonton (2007–2025) President of the Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops (2011–2013)
Orders
Ordination	May 23, 1987
Consecration	June 18, 2002 by  Marcel Gervais
Personal details
Born	(1959-04-28) April 28, 1959 (age 65) Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada
Denomination	Roman Catholic
Alma mater	Saint Mary's University, Atlantic School of Theology, Pontifical Gregorian University (1993,1998)
Motto	Fiat Voluntas Tua (English: "Thy Will Be Done")
Coat of arms
Ordination history
History Priestly ordination Date May 23, 1987 Episcopal consecration Principal consecrator Marcel Gervais (Ottawa) Co-consecrators Terrence Prendergast (Halifax) Austin-Emile Burke (Halifax em.) Date June 18, 2002 Place St. Columbkille Cathedral, Pembroke, Ontario, Canada
Episcopal succession Bishops consecrated by Richard W. Smith as principal consecrator Gregory Bittman September 3, 2012 [1] [2] Paul Terrio December 12, 2012 [3] [4] Gary Franken December 12, 2022 [5] [6]
Source(s): [7] [8]

Styles of Richard W. Smith
Reference style	His Grace The Most Reverend
Spoken style	Your Grace Your Excellency
Religious style	Archbishop

Richard William Smith (born April 28, 1959) is a Canadian prelate of the Roman Catholic Church. He is the archbishop-designate of Vancouver, having previously served as Bishop of Pembroke and Archbishop of Edmonton.

The Archbishop is currently a member of the Canadian Catholic Indigenous Council and the Catholic Near East Welfare Association (CNEWA). ^[9]

Early life

Smith was born in Halifax, Nova Scotia, on April 28, 1959. ^{[7] [10]} He was the oldest of four children of Anne Marie (Butts) and Donald James Smith. ^{[11] [12]} Smith studied at St. Mary's University, obtaining a bachelor's degree in communication. He later received a Master of Divinity at the Atlantic School of Theology. He furthered his studies in Rome at the Pontifical Gregorian University, from which he earned a Licentiate in 1993 and a Doctorate in Sacred Theology five years later. ^{[7] [10]}

Presbyteral ministry

Smith was ordained to the priesthood on May 23, 1987, for the metropolitan Archdiocese of Halifax–Yarmouth. ^{[7] [10]}

Within the Archdiocese of Halifax–Yarmouth, Smith served in a number of positions. From 1987 to 1991, he served as the parish vicar of the Immaculate Conception Parish in Truro. He was made chaplain responsible for the pastoral ministry of French-speaking Catholics in Halifax in 1990. ^{[8] [10]} Five years later, he received his first pastoral charge as a parish priest for Saint Peter in Sheet Harbour. In 1997, he became the parish priest of the towns of Bridgewater and Lunenburg, as well as the community of Elmwood. In 1999, he became the administrator of Saint John the Baptist in Halifax. Smith was made vicar general of the archdiocese in 2001 and held the position until the following year. ^[10]

Smith was also a professor of sacramental and dogmatic theology at St. Peter's Seminary in London, Ontario. He contributed to diocesan formation programs for deacons and lay faithful. ^{[13] [14]}

Episcopal ministry

Regional and National (2002–present)

Since 2003, Smith has been a member of the English Sector Commission for Christian Education in the Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops

In 2009, Smith was made Vice President of the Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops. In 2011, he became the conference's President and held the position until 2013. He serves as the conference's current Chairman. Smith was a member of the conference's Episcopal Working Group for the Coordination of Indigenous Initiatives and then of the Ad hoc Committee for Indigenous Issues. ^{[10] [14] [8]}

In 2015, Smith was selected as the second national delegate of the English Sector to the XIV Ordinary General Assembly of the Synod of Bishops. ^[14]

In 2018, Smith participated in reconciliation dialogue with Canadian national Indigenous leadership. In April 2022, Smith participated in the Indigenous delegation that met with Pope Francis in Rome. He was the lead coordinator for the Visit by Pope Francis to Canada in 2022. ^{[15] [16] [14] [17] [18]}

He is also the national spiritual advisor of the Catholic Women's League of Canada, and President of the Ontario Conference of Catholic Bishops. ^[8]

Pembroke (2002–2007)

On April 27, 2002, Smith was appointed the seventh Bishop of Pembroke by Pope John Paul II. He received his episcopal consecration at St. Columbkille Cathedral, on the following June 18 from Archbishop Marcel Gervais, with Archbishops Terrence Prendergast, S.J., and Austin-Emile Burke serving as co-consecrators. ^{[14] [19]}

Edmonton (2007–2025)

He was later named the eighth metropolitan Archbishop of Edmonton by Pope Benedict XVI on March 22, 2007, being formally installed on the following May 1. ^[19]

In January 2016, Smith visited the Pallotine Province of the Assumption of the B.V.M. in Bangalore, India. Eight Pallotines of the province serve in the Archdiocese of Edmonton. ^[20]

Vancouver (2025–present)

Pope Francis appointed Smith Archbishop of Vancouver on February 25, 2025. ^{[9] [10] [17] [18]}

Media

Smith co-hosted Upfront with the Archbishop with Jenny Connelly from May 10, 2022, until its conclusion on October 29, 2024, releasing 106 episodes ranging from 18 minutes to an hour and a half. The podcast was published on Apple Podcasts and Spotify, and select episodes included video which was published on the podcasts YouTube channel of the same name. The podcast sought to strengthen the relationship between the hierarchy and the faithful through informal conversations about our Catholic faith. ^{[21] [22]}

CBC News' Clare Bonnyman interviewed Smith and Connelly about their podcast on CBC News' podcast Deep Dive. ^[22]

References

1. Jodoin, Daniel (September 4, 2012). "Ordination of Bishop Gregory Bittman". Salt + Light Media . Retrieved February 25, 2025.
2. "Episcopal ordination of Auxiliary Bishop Gregory Bittman of Edmonton". Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops. August 31, 2012. Retrieved February 25, 2025.
3. Huser, Janice (December 18, 2012). "Bishop Terrio welcomed and ordained as leader of diocese". Lakeland Today. Archived from the original on February 25, 2025. Retrieved February 25, 2025.
4. "Ordination of the new Bishop of Saint-Paul". Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops. December 13, 2012. Retrieved February 25, 2025.
5. Cabradilla, Mario (December 14, 2022). "New bishop ordained at St. Paul cathedral". Lakeland Today. Archived from the original on May 12, 2023. Retrieved February 25, 2025.
6. "New bishop of St. Paul answers the call". Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Edmonton. December 14, 2022. Archived from the original on March 19, 2024. Retrieved February 25, 2025.
7. "Archbishop Richard W. Smith". Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Edmonton. Archived from the original on February 25, 2025. Retrieved February 25, 2025.
8. "Episcopal Resignation and Appointment for the Archdiocese of Vancouver". Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops. February 25, 2025. Retrieved March 1, 2025.
9. "Appointment of The Most Reverend Richard W. Smith as Twelfth Archbishop of Vancouver". Archdiocese of Vancouver. February 25, 2025. Retrieved February 25, 2025.
10. "Resignations and Appointments". Holy See Press Office. Holy See. February 25, 2025. Retrieved February 25, 2025.
11. "Condolences to Archbishop Smith". Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Edmonton. March 2012. Archived from the original on February 24, 2024. Retrieved March 1, 2025.
12. "Donald James Smith Obituary". Dignity Memorial. Retrieved March 1, 2025.
13. Palmo, Rocco (2007-03-22). "Bishop Smith Goes to Edmonton". Whispers in the Loggia.
14. "Episcopal Resignation and Appointment for the Archdiocese of Vancouver". Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops. February 25, 2025.
15. Smith, Richard (November 24, 2021). "Special Delegation of Indigenous Peoples to Encounter Pope Francis in Rome" (PDF). Old Catholic Archdiocese of Edmonton. Retrieved February 26, 2025.
16. ArchEdmonton (Nov 24, 2021). "Archbishop Smith talks about upcoming Indigenous Delegation to Rome | @ArchEdmonton". YouTube.
17. "Pope names Archbishop Smith of Edmonton next Archbishop of Vancouver, accepts Archbishop Miller's retirement". The B.C. Catholic . February 25, 2025. Retrieved February 25, 2025.
18. "Ailing Pope Frances appoints new Archbishop of Vancouver". The Canadian Press . Feb 25, 2025.
19. "Archbishop Richard William Smith". Catholic-Hierarchy.org.^{[ self-published source ]}
20. "Visit of Most Rev. Richard William Smith", ABVM Province, bangalorepallottines.com. Accessed April 24, 2022.
21. "Upfront with the Archbishop". The Catholic Archdiocese of Edmonton.
22. "Conversations for the congregation: The rise of religious podcasts in Edmonton". CBC News . August 27, 2024.

External links

Catholic Church titles
Preceded by Brendan O'Brien	Bishop of Pembroke 2002—2007	Succeeded by Michael Mulhall
Preceded by Thomas Christopher Collins	Archbishop of Edmonton 2007–2025	Vacant
Preceded by J. Michael Miller	Archbishop of Vancouver Assuming position in 2025	Incumbent