Catholic Bishops Elect Defender of Immigrants as First Hispanic President

The Roman Catholic bishops of the United States on Tuesday elected a Hispanic immigrant as their president for the first time by elevating Archbishop José H. Gomez of Los Angeles, who has long vowed to defend immigrants amid their fears of deportation.

The bishops followed custom by selecting their previous vice president, but the move is nonetheless a pointed statement from Catholic leaders while President Trump continues to draw support for his anti-immigrant policy. Archbishop Gomez received 176 votes to 18 for the second finisher, Archbishop Allen H. Vigneron of Detroit, who was later voted vice president. The choice of Archbishop Gomez was greeted with a standing ovation.