Pope John Paul II has appointed the Very Rev. Paul J. Bradley as auxiliary bishop of the Diocese of Pittsburgh.

The Rev. Paul J. Bradley

Bradley, who will be ordained as a bishop Feb. 2, has been the diocesan vicar general and general secretary since last year. He will retain those duties in his role as auxiliary bishop, Bishop Donald W. Wuerl said yesterday at a news conference announcing the appointment, which he called "a wonderful Christmas present." Bradley will be the diocese's second auxiliary bishop, joining Auxiliary Bishop William Winter.

Auxiliary bishops assist in the administrative and pastoral duties of the bishop, and also in sacramental duties normally reserved for bishops, particularly confirmations. Because Bradley is already managing the administration of the diocese, the sacramental role will be the main addition to his duties. Wuerl said yesterday that with 120 parish visits for confirmations a year, Bradley would experience that duty "in abundant measure."

Bradley, 59, is a native of Glassport and one of eight children.

Bradley served at St. Sebastian Parish in Ross from 1971 to 1977, then at St. Paul in Butler and St. Kieran in Lawrenceville. In 1982, he was appointed director of the diocese's Office of Family Life, serving until 1988, when he became secretary for social concerns. He continued that until 1994. He returned to St. Sebastian that year and served until 2001, when he became rector and pastor of St. Paul Parish in Oakland. He held that position until last year.

Bradley is well-known in the diocese and is a popular priest, said the Rev. Frank Almade of St. John Vianney Parish.

Almade said that Bradley's upbringing in a large, close family and his various positions have prepared him well to serve.

"Because of his work in Family Life and Social Concerns, and because he comes from a loving family, he identifies with families -- those devoted to church as well as those who are hurting."

The Rev. Tom Sparacino, now pastor of St. Mary of Mercy Parish, Downtown, started as a seminarian at St. Sebastian with Bradley in 1995.

"I was with him three years as a seminarian, and I was his parochial vicar for three years. He's a very pastoral, compassionate, holy man -- really, those are the words I use to describe him."

Wuerl said Bradley "is blessed with many priestly talents and pastoral abilities. ... All who know him recognize in him his love for the church and his care for the people entrusted to his pastoral ministry."

Bradley said the appointment was a privilege and "an opportunity for greater service to God's holy church, and most particularly to the church of Pittsburgh."

Auxiliary bishops frequently go on to become bishops. In the Pittsburgh Diocese, auxiliary bishops who did so include Coleman Carroll, who became bishop of Miami; Vincent Leonard, who became bishop of Pittsburgh; Anthony Bosco, who became bishop of Greensburg; Thomas Tobin, who became bishop of Youngstown; and David Zubik, who became bishop of Green Bay, Wis.