Richard Pates

{{short description|American prelate of the Catholic Church (born 1943)}} {{Use mdy dates|date=April 2021}} {{for-multi|the English politician|Richard Pate|the English bishop|Richard Pate (bishop)}} {{Infobox Christian leader | type = Bishop | honorific-prefix = His Excellency, The Most Reverend | name = Richard Pates | honorific-suffix = | title = Bishop Emeritus of Des Moines | image = Bishop Pates' Ordination.jpg | alt = | caption = Pates' episcopal ordination in 2001 | church = Roman Catholic Church | province = | diocese = Des Moines | see = | appointed = April 10, 2008 | enthroned = May 29, 2008 | retired = July 18, 2019 | predecessor = Joseph Charron | successor = William M. Joensen | ordination = December 20, 1968 | ordained_by = Francis Frederick Reh | consecration = March 26, 2001 | consecrated_by = Harry Joseph Flynn, John Roach, and Frederick F. Campbell | rank =  | birth_name = Richard Edmund Pates | birth_date = {{birth date and age|1943|2|12}} | birth_place = Saint Paul, Minnesota, US | death_date = | death_place = | previous_post = {{bulleted list| Auxiliary Bishop of St. Paul and Minneapolis and Titular Bishop of Suacia (2001-2008) | Apostolic Administrator of Joliet (2019–2020) }} | other_post = {{bulleted list| Apostolic Administrator of Crookston (2021)| Apostolic Administrator of Dubuque}} | alma_mater = Nazareth Hall Preparatory Seminary <br> Saint Paul Seminary <br> Pontifical North American College <br> Pontifical Gregorian University }}

{{Infobox bishopstyles | name= Richard Edmund Pates | dipstyle= *His Excellency *The Most Reverend | offstyle=Your Excellency | relstyle=Bishop | image = Mitre (plain).svg | image_size = 200px }}

'''Richard Edmund Pates''' (born February 12, 1943) is an American Catholic prelate who served as bishop of Des Moines in Iowa from 2008 to 2019 and as an auxiliary bishop of the Archdiocese of St. Paul and Minneapolis in Minnesota from 2000 to 2008.

After his retirement, Pates served as apostolic administrator of both the Diocese of Joliet in Illinois and the Diocese of Crookston in Minnesota for short terms. In 2023, Pope Francis appointed Pates as administrator of the Archdiocese of Dubuque in Iowa due to the abrupt retirement of Archbishop Michael Jackels.

==Biography==

===Early life=== The youngest of three sons, Richard Pates was born on February 12, 1943, to Donald and Lenora Pates in Saint Paul, Minnesota.<ref name=mirror>{{cite news|date=April 18, 2008|work=The Catholic Mirror|title=Bishop's background, ministry}}</ref> He attended Nazareth Hall Preparatory Seminary in Saint Paul and St. Paul Seminary, where he earned Bachelor of Philosophy and Bachelor of Latin degrees in 1965. Pates completed his graduate studies in Rome, where he resided at the Pontifical North American College. He received a Licentiate of Sacred Theology from the Pontifical Gregorian University.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |last=Wendt |first=Christopher |date=2008-04-10 |title=Auxiliary Bishop Richard E. Pates Named Bishop of Des Moines |url=https://www.archspm.org/auxiliary-bishop-richard-e-pates-named-bishop-des-moines/ |access-date=2023-11-01 |website=Archdiocese of Saint Paul and Minneapolis |language=en}}</ref>

===Early priesthood=== On December 20, 1968, Pates was ordained to the priesthood for the Archdiocese of St. Paul and Minneapolis by Bishop Francis Reh at St. Peter's Basilica in Rome.<ref name="hierarchy">{{Catholic-hierarchy|bishop|bpates|Bishop Richard Edmund Pates|January 21, 2015}}</ref> After returning to Minnesota in 1968, he was appointed associate pastor at Blessed Sacrament Parish in St. Paul.<ref name=mirror/><ref name=":0" /> In 1970, he was named vocation director of the archdiocese holding that position until 1974. Pates also served as a weekend associate pastor at Annunciation Parish in Minneapolis, Minnesota.<ref>{{cite book |title=State, Foreign Operations, and Related Programs Appropriations for 2014: Hearings Before a Subcommittee of the Committee on Appropriations, House of Representatives, One Hundred Thirteenth Congress, First Session |date=2014 |publisher=Government Printing Office |location=Washington |page=538 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=xzCwSYk7CAkC&pg=PA538 |access-date=28 August 2025}}</ref> In 1973, he was named as private secretary to Archbishop Leo Byrne and vice-chancellor of the Archdiocese.<ref name=":1">{{Cite web |title=Biography of Richard Pates |url=https://www.dmdiocese.org/filesimages/Bishop/BIOGRAPHY%20of%20Bishop%20Richard%20Pates.pdf |access-date=November 1, 2023 |website=Diocese of Des Moines}}</ref>

===Senior priestly postings===

In 1975, Pates was appointed as secretary of the apostolic delegation to the United States in Washington, D.C.. During this time, he assisted at Blessed Sacrament Parish in Chevy Chase, Maryland<ref>{{cite web |title=Shrine of the Most Blessed Sacrament |url=http://www.blessedsacramentdc.org/ |website=www.blessedsacramentdc.org}}</ref> The Vatican raised Pates to the rank of chaplain to his holiness in 1979.<ref name=mirror/><ref name=":1" />

In 1981, Pates returned to Saint Paul to become rector of Saint John Vianney College Seminary, a position he would hold until 1987. He was also appointed chaplain of the Serra Club of Midway, Minnesota. In 1987, Pates was appointed vicar for seminaries and pastor of Saint Kevin Parish and the Resurrection Parish, both in Minneapolis. In 1991, the two parishes merged to form Our Lady of Peace Parish, where Pates continued as pastor until 1998.<ref name=":1" />

Pates served as moderator for the archdiocese deaneries, the Council of Catholic Women (1990–1998) and was the founding pastor of Saint Ambrose of Woodbury Parish in St. Paul (1998–2001).<ref>{{Cite web |title=History and Background {{!}} Saint Ambrose Catholic Community |url=https://saintambrosecatholic.org/about/history-and-background/ |access-date=2023-11-01 |website=Saint Ambrose Catholic Church |language=en-US}}</ref><ref name=":1" />

===Auxiliary Bishop of St. Paul and Minneapolis===

On December 22, 2000, Pope John Paul II appointed Pates as an auxiliary bishop of St. Paul and Minneapolis and titular bishop of Suacia.<ref name=hierarchy/> He was consecrated on March 26, 2001, by Archbishop Harry Flynn, with Archbishop John Roach and Bishop Frederick Campbell serving as co-consecrators, at the Cathedral of St. Paul in Saint Paul.<ref name=hierarchy/>

As an auxiliary bishop, Pates served as vicar general, vicar for clergy, vicar for youth and young adults, and vicar for evangelization.<ref name=":1" />

===Bishop of Des Moines===

On April 10, 2008, Pope Benedict XVI appointed Pates as the ninth bishop of Des Moines.<ref name=hierarchy/> He was installed on May 29, 2008. Pates was the third consecutive Twin Cities' auxiliary bishop to be named bishop Des Moines; his two immediate predecessors, Bishop Joseph Charron and Bishop William Bullock, previously served the St. Paul and Minneapolis Archdiocese.<ref name=mirror/>

In November 2011, Pates was elected chair of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops' (USCCB) Committee on International Justice and Peace at the 2011 meeting. He was elected on a 122–114 vote over Bishop Frank Dewane of the Diocese of Venice in Florida.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.catholicnews.com/data/briefs/cns/20111115.htm#head18|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111117112748/http://www.catholicnews.com/data/briefs/cns/20111115.htm#head18|url-status=dead|archive-date=November 17, 2011|title=Catholic News Service|website=www.catholicnews.com|date=July 13, 2021}}</ref> Pates advocated lifting the Cuban embargo and other restrictions the US Government had placed on Cuba. He called for further dialogue between the two countries, earning some support from Catholics in South Florida.<ref>{{cite web |date=April 20, 2012 |title=US bishop reiterates call to end Cuba embargo; gets support in Miami |url=http://www.catholicnews.com/data/briefs/cns/20120420.htm#head3 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120429140334/http://www.catholicnews.com/data/briefs/cns/20120420.htm#head3 |archive-date=April 29, 2012 |website=Catholic News Service}}</ref>

=== Retirement === On February 16, 2018, Pates submitted his letter of resignation as bishop of Des Moines to Pope Francis having reached the canonical retirement age of 75.<ref>{{cite web |date=February 16, 2018 |title=Des Moines' ninth bishop submits resignation |url=http://www.kcci.com/article/des-moines-ninth-bishop-submits-resignation/18214677 |website=KCCI}}</ref> His successor, Reverend William M. Joensen, was announced in late July 2019.

===Apostolic administrator===

On December 27, 2019, Francis named Pates as apostolic administrator of Joliet after Bishop R. Daniel Conlon took medical leave.<ref>{{cite web |title=Bishop Pates to lead Joliet, Ill., diocese temporarily during bishop's medical leave |url=https://thecatholicspirit.com/news/local-news/bishop-pates-to-lead-joliet-diocese-temporarily-during-bishops-medical-leave/ |website=TheCatholicSpirit.com |access-date=March 2, 2020 |date=December 28, 2019}}</ref> Pates continued in that role when Conlon retired on May 4, 2020.<ref>{{cite web |title= Pope Francis Accepts Bishop R. Daniel Conlon's Resignation as Bishop of Joliet |url=http://dioceseofjoliet.org/communications/newsdetail.php?id=132 |website=dioceseofjoliet.org |access-date=May 6, 2020 |date=May 4, 2020}}</ref> Pates' responsibilities in Joliet ended when new Bishop Ronald Hicks was installed there on September 29, 2020.<ref>{{cite news | access-date = October 1, 2020 |url = https://www.chicagotribune.com/suburbs/daily-southtown/ct-sta-bishop-hicks-joliet-diocese-st-0930-20200929-haeea2xz3rdf7id4ycl2uvyiee-story.html | work = Chicago Tribune | date= September 29, 2020 | first = Bill | last = Jones | title = Diocese of Joliet's newly installed Bishop Ronald Hicks has history in the Southland }}</ref>

On April 13, 2021, Francis named Pates as apostolic administrator of Crookston.<ref>{{cite press release | publisher = Holy See Press Office | url = https://press.vatican.va/content/salastampa/en/bollettino/pubblico/2021/04/13/210413a.html | title = Resignations and Appointments, 13.04.2021 | date= April 13, 2021| access-date = April 13, 2021 }}</ref> The pope had asked Bishop Michael Hoeppner to resign due to his mishandling of sexual abuse allegations against priests.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Wiering |first=Maria |date=April 13, 2021 |title=Pope accepts resignation of Minn. bishop over handling of abuse |url=https://catholicphilly.com/2021/04/news/national-news/pope-accepts-resignation-of-bishop-who-heads-minnesota-diocese/ |access-date=2021-11-28 |website=Catholic Philly |language=en-US}}</ref> Pates' term ended on December 6, 2021, with the installation of Auxiliary Bishop Andrew H. Cozzens as bishop of Crookston.<ref>{{cite web |last1= |date=18 October 2021 |title=Member of Twin Cities Catholic leadership named bishop of Diocese of Crookston |url=https://www.twincities.com/2021/10/18/member-of-twin-cities-catholic-leadership-named-bishop-of-diocese-of-crookston/ |access-date=27 October 2021 |website=Twin Cities Pioneer Press |publisher=St. Paul Pioneer Press}}</ref>

Due to health issues, Archbishop Michael Jackels of Dubuque in April 2023 asked Francis to immediately accept his resignation as archbishop. Francis accepted the resignation on April 4, 2023, and appointed Pates as apostolic administrator of the archdiocese until Thomas Robert Zinkula was appointed the Archbishop on July 26.

==References== {{Reflist}}

==External links== {{wikiquote|Richard Edmund Pates}} {{commons category}}

{{S-start}} {{s-rel|ca}} {{Succession box | title=Bishop of Des Moines | before=Joseph Charron | after=William M. Joensen| years= 2008-2019 }} {{Succession box | title=Auxiliary Bishop of Saint Paul and Minneapolis | before= - | after= - | years= 2001-2008 }} {{S-end}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Pates, Richard}} Category:1943 births Category:Living people Category:Clergy from Saint Paul, Minnesota Category:21st-century Roman Catholic bishops in the United States Category:Saint Paul Seminary alumni Category:Pontifical Gregorian University alumni Category:Archdiocese of Saint Paul and Minneapolis Category:Roman Catholic bishops of Des Moines Category:Religious leaders from Minnesota