Archbishop Raymond Burke Leaving St. Louis

(KSDK) -- Archbishop Raymond Burke teared up Friday morning when he talked about leaving St. Louis because Pope Benedict the XVI has appointed him to the Vatican's Supreme Tribunal of Apostolic Signatura in Rome.

The Apostolic Signatura is the highest judicial authority of the Catholic Church.

The announcement was made at the Vatican Friday morning, but the Archbishop has known for ten days.

According to Canon Law, the College of Consultors, must elect an administrator to oversee the St. Louis archdiocese until the Pope appoints a new Archbishop.

Friday afternoon, the Archdiocese of St. Louis announced that Bishop Robert Hermann had been elected to serve as Administrator of the Archdiocese of St. Louis.

The court is designed to ensure that justice is administered correctly in all tribunals and offices.

Most of the cases handled by the court are marriage annulments.

Archbishop Burke said if a case involving St. Louis reaches the court he would not be involved in any of the discussions.

With this appointment, Archbishop Burke may soon become a Cardinal.

Archbishop Burke will remain in St. Louis until he moves to Rome in August.

He said he will miss St. Louis very much.

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