Cordileone will be replacing Archbishop George H. Niederauer, 76, who is resigning from his post upon having reached the church imposed retirement age limit.
Cordileone, 56 was born in San Diego and studied at St. Francis Seminary, San Diego, and North American College and Gregorian University, Rome.
He was ordained a priest in 1982 and pursued doctoral studies in canon law in Rome from 1985-1989. From 1985-1991, he served as an official of the Tribunal of the Diocese of San Diego. From 1989-1991, he served a secretary to the diocesan bishop, and from 1991-1995, he served as pastor of Our Lady of Guadalupe Parish, Calexico, California.
From 1995-2002, he served as an official of the Supreme Tribunal of the Signatura, Rome, the Church's highest juridical body under the pope. In 1999, he was named a monsignor.
On July 5, 2002, Pope John Paul II appointed him auxiliary bishop of San Diego. He was ordained a bishop on August 21 of that year. On March 23, 2009, Pope Benedict XVI appointed him bishop of Oakland.
Niederauer was born in Los Angeles and earned advanced degrees in English literature from Loyola University of Los Angeles and the University of Southern California.
He was ordained a priest of the Archdiocese of Los Angeles on April 30, 1962, and ordained bishop of Salt Lake City on January 25, 1995.
On December 15, 2005, he was appointed archbishop of San Francisco.