WASHINGTON (CNS) -- Pope Francis has named Auxiliary Bishop Christopher J. Coyne of Indianapolis to head the Diocese of Burlington, Vermont.

Bishop Coyne, 56, succeeds Bishop Salvatore R. Matano, who was installed last January as the ninth bishop of Rochester, New York.

The appointment was announced Dec. 22 in Washington by Archbishop Carlo Maria Vigano, apostolic nuncio to the United States.

Cardinal Sean P. O'Malley, Archbishop of Boston, released the following statement:

"We give thanks to our Holy Father, Pope Francis, for having named the Most Rev. Christopher Coyne as bishop-elect of the Diocese of Burlington, Vermont. The Archdiocese of Boston joins the faithful of the Diocese of Burlington in congratulating Bishop Coyne, a son of the Archdiocese and ordained to the priesthood here almost thirty years ago, and assuring him of our prayers as he prepares to begin this new leadership role. The Catholic Church throughout New England will benefit from Bishop Coyne's pastoral concern for the people of God and his contributions to our shared efforts to carry out the mission entrusted to us by the Lord."