Bishop appointments are shrouded in mystery and secrecy, with most people left to guess why the pope chooses one man over another.

But many educated observers say that Bishop David Zubik's appointment to the Catholic Diocese of Pittsburgh can be laid at the feet of his predecessor, Archbishop Donald Wuerl of Washington, D.C., who believed he was the right man for the job.

"This is clearly an indicator of Archbishop Wuerl's influence. It shows that Wuerl put in a very strong word for him and the people in the Vatican listened," said the Rev. Thomas Reese, a senior fellow at Georgetown University's Woodstock Theological Center.

There were serious objections to overcome, said Rocco Palmo, who blogs on the hierarchy and covers the United States for the London-based Catholic weekly, The Tablet. Not only did other powerful prelates have their own favorites for the post, but Bishop Zubik had spent less than four years in Green Bay, Wis., and had not yet finished a difficult, complex reorganization of its parishes and schools.

His appointment could be part of a trend to allow bishops more say in choosing their successors.

"It seems in this pontificate, bishops are able to pick their successors in a way that they haven't before. Examples include Washington, Baltimore, San Francisco, Sao Paolo [Brazil], Bombay [India] and now Pittsburgh," Mr. Palmo said.

The fact that Pittsburgh has now had two native sons in a row could also be a sign that Pope Benedict XVI likes the idea of bishops who know their dioceses well before they take charge, he said. Bishop Zubik is a native of Ambridge.

Despite a view that the Vatican doesn't favor homegrown bishops, many people -- apparently including Bishop Zubik -- had expected the pope to choose auxiliary Bishop Paul Bradley, who has run the diocese as administrator for 14 months. His work was widely praised by the priests.

It now seems likely that he will receive a diocese of his own, Father Reese said.

Auxiliaries who do a good job as interims "are typically given a diocese of their own within two years," he said.

Bishop Bradley had followed Bishop Zubik as general secretary, vicar general and auxiliary bishop in Pittsburgh. Since Archbishop Wuerl's departure, he has been self-effacing, drawing no attention to himself.

Yesterday, Bishop Zubik made a point of praising Bishop Bradley's service.

"We all owe a huge debt of gratitude to him for leading this local church in the last 14 months with spiritual integrity, singular devotion and pastoral zeal," he said.