Orange County Catholics are about to get a new bishop. Pope Benedict XVI will formally announce his choice Friday, and the new bishop will take over the Diocese of Orange later this year.
As Orange County's fourth bishop, the new prelate will succeed Bishop Tod D. Brown, who reached the mandatory retirement age of 75 last fall.
After the Vatican announcement, Brown will introduce his successor at a press conference at the Marywood Pastoral Center in Orange.
The Diocese of Orange is the nation's 10th largest and fastest-growing Catholic diocese, serving more than 1 million Catholics, according to a news release issued Thursday.
Brown, who was ordained as a priest in 1963, has served as bishop since 1998.
He will participate in the formal installation of his successor on an unspecified date later this year, according to the diocese.
Until then, he will continue as bishop of Orange.