Pope Francis promotes Ohio's Rev. Dennis G. Walsh as Bishop of the Diocese of Davenport

The Vatican had its eye on Ohio's men of the cloth.

Pope Francis promoted Rev. Dennis G. Walsh, a priest and pastor of the Diocese of Toledo, to become the 10th Bishop of the Diocese of Davenport, Iowa.

Bishop Daniel E. Thomas of the Diocese of Toledo made the announcement in a news release Tuesday morning.

The promotion marks the first time a priest from the Diocese of Toledo has been named to another diocese.

"I am thrilled that our Holy Father, Pope Francis, has honored the presbyterate of our diocese by choosing one of our finest pastors and such a splendid priest, now Bishop-Elect Dennis Walsh, to serve as a Successor of the Apostles," Thomas said in the release.

Bishop-Elect Walsh has served many Ohio parishes

Bishop-Elect Walsh has served as pastor of Saint John the Evangelist Parish in Delphos since 2015, Saint John the Baptist Parish in Landeck since 2015 and Saint Patrick Parish in Spencerville since 2016.

His prior pastoral assignments included pastor of Saint Patrick of Heatherdowns Parish (2007-2015), pastor of Saint John Parish in Defiance (2002-2007) and associate pastor of Saint Mary Parish in Sandusky (1998-2002).

He was born and raised in Saint Gerard Parish in Lima. He was ordained into the priesthood May 9, 1992, for the Congregation of the Most Holy Redeemer (Redemptorists), Baltimore Province, and incardinated into the Diocese of Toledo on July 19, 2000.

Within the Diocese of Toledo, Walsh has held several leadership positions on many diocesan boards, committees, and consultative bodies.

'A spiritually grounded and trusted advisor'

Walsh's ordination and installation as the 10th Bishop of Davenport will be Friday, Sept. 27.

"As a bishop, his fidelity to Christ and His Church, his pastoral and practical wisdom, his administrative and leadership aptitude, his love for the people of God, and his warm and jovial personality will serve him well as he shepherds the local Church of Davenport," Thomas stated in the news release. "I have had the pleasure of working closely with Father Walsh for almost 10 years, and have found him to be a spiritually grounded and trusted advisor who lives out his vocation in joyful obedience. I kindly ask all the people in our diocese — priests, deacons, consecrated religious and lay faithful − to join me in enthusiastically and prayerfully congratulating Bishop-Elect Dennis Walsh."

More information can be found online at davenportdiocese.org.

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This article originally appeared on Mansfield News Journal: Pope Francis made Ohio's Rev. Walsh the Bishop of Diocese of Davenport