Archbishop +J. Michael Miller’s Resignation Accepted; Archbishop +Richard W. Smith Appointed as Vancouver’s Next Archbishop – Vancouver, BC.

After more than 16 years of leading the Archdiocese of Vancouver, Archbishop +J. Michael Miller CSB, having reached the age of 75 in 2021 and having submitted his resignation in accordance with canon law, had his resignation accepted by His Holiness Pope Francis. The Vatican announced yesterday morning that the Most Reverend +Richard W. Smith, Archbishop of Edmonton, was appointed as the next Archbishop of Vancouver. He will be installed as the 12th Archbishop of Vancouver later this year. Archbishop Miller will continue to serve as Apostolic Administrator in the meantime.

Michael Miller, 1981.

John Michael Miller, CSB was born in Ottawa, Ontario on July 9, 1946. He joined the Congregation of St. Basil as a novice on September 3, 1965. He was ordained a priest by Pope Paul VI in St. Peter’s Square, Rome on June 29, 1975. In 2004, he was ordained Titular Bishop of Vertara, with the rank of Archbishop, and appointed to serve as Secretary of the Congregation for Catholic Education in Rome. He arrived in Vancouver in 2007 as Coadjutor Archbishop, and took over the leadership of the Archdiocese in 2009.

 Consecration of Archbishop Miller. Rome, 2004.

His previous ministry includes teaching theology at the University of St. Thomas in Houston, Texas and serving as the seventh President of the University of St. Thomas in 1997-2004. He has also been involved in various academic and social organizations, serving on the boards of the Association of Texas Colleges and Universities, the Mental Health Association of Greater Houston, and the Fellowship of Catholic Scholars.

Within the Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops (CCCB), Archbishop Miller was a member of the National Commission for Doctrine (2008-2011) and later its Chair (2011-2014), served on the CCCB Permanent Council (2009-2011), and was part of the Episcopal Commission for Christian Unity, Religious Relations with Jews, and Interfaith Dialogue (2014-2017). Additionally, he chaired the Standing Committee for Responsible Ministry and the Protection of Minors and Vulnerable Persons (2019), and currently serves on the Episcopal Commission for Justice and Peace.

His contributions to the Holy See include working in the English-language section of the Secretariat of State (1992-1997). In 2003, Pope John Paul II appointed him Secretary of the Congregation for Catholic Education and Vice President of the Pontifical Work of Priestly Vocations. He has also been a consultor to the Congregation for Bishops and a member of the Pontifical Committee for International Eucharistic Congresses.

The Archdiocese of Vancouver includes 103 diocesan priests, 121 religious brothers and sisters, 40 permanent deacons, and a Catholic population of 410,594 across 85 parishes and missions.

On behalf of the Congregation, and the entire Basilian Community, we extend our deepest gratitude to Archbishop Miller for years of faithful leadership and service to the Church. May God continue to bless and guide him in this new chapter of your journey.

St. Basil, pray for us! / San Basilio, ruega por nosotros! / Saint Basile, prie pour nous!