The 56-year-old prelate succeeds Archbishop George Niederauer, 76, who retired upon having reached the age limit.

Salvatore Cordileone was born in San Diego in 1956 and ordained a priest of that diocese in 1982. He has been the bishop of Oakland since 2009.

Archbishop Cordileone is chairman of the U.S. bishops' Subcommittee for the Promotion and Defense of Marriage.