Written by Michael Sean Winters | National Catholic Reporter

Photo by CNS | Bob Roller

Archbishop-designate Shelton Fabre’s appointment as the fifth archbishop and 10th bishop of the historic see of Louisville reverberates beyond what would be usual for a diocese of 180,000 Catholics. For a variety of reasons, it shows the degree to which the hierarchy of the Catholic Church in the United States is finally, however slowly, being brought into sync with the agenda of Pope Francis.