DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — The Rev. William Joensen has been ordained as the 10th bishop to lead the Roman Catholic Diocese of Des Moines. The Des Moines Register reports that more than 1,500 parishioners witnessed the ordination Friday at St. Francis of Assisi Church in West Des Moines, the diocese’s largest. Pope Francis selected the 59-year-old Joensen, an Iowa native, to replace former Bishop Richard Pates, who retired after holding the role for more than a decade.

In his inaugural address, Joensen addressed young people, saying that “some of the church’s actions in the past merit reproach” and that reproach of that by younger parishioners was to be expected. But he implored them to You are to “be open to the wisdom passed down from generation to generation.”