Pope Leo XIV on Feb. 14 accepted the resignation of Amarillo Bishop Patrick Zurek, appointing Cardinal Daniel DiNardo to serve as apostolic administrator of the Texas diocese until a permanent replacement can be found.
Zurek has served as the Amarillo bishop for nearly 20 years, having been appointed to the post by Pope Benedict XVI in 2008. He had previously served as an auxiliary bishop of the Archdiocese of San Antonio.
The diocese on its website identifies him as “the longest serving Bishop in the history of the Diocese of Amarillo.” At 77 he was two years past the customary retirement age for bishops.
DiNardo previously served as the archbishop of Galveston-Houston from 2006 to 2025. He was created a cardinal by Pope Benedict XVI in 2007. He has served as both the president and vice president of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops.
Religious sister named deputy director of Vatican press office
On Feb. 13, meanwhile, Pope Leo XIV appointed Sister Nina Benedikta Krapić, MVZ as deputy director of the Holy See Press Office.
The first religious sister to serve in the role, Krapić previously served in the Dicastery for Communications. Vatican News reported that she has also worked “as a journalist and as a legal advisor for women victims of domestic violence and other marginalized individuals.”
She is currently studying for a doctorate in social sciences at the Collegium Maximum of the Pontifical Gregorian University in Rome. She will take up the post in the Vatican press office in March 1.
Krapić replaces Cristiane Murray in the press role. Murray was appointed to the position by Pope Francis in 2019 after having worked for Vatican Radio for more than 25 years.
