Latin-rite Bishop Thomas Olmsted of Phoenix has been appointed apostolic administrator of a Byzantine Ruthenian eparchy also based in Phoenix in USA, following a legal dispute among Eastern Catholics. Archbishop Christophe Pierre, Vatican nuncio to the United States, announced the appointment of Bishop Olmsted to the Holy Protection of Mary Byzantine Catholic Eparch on August 1. Bishop Olmsted, who remains the head of the Phoenix Diocese, said that the current head of the eparchy, Bishop John Pazak, remains in place.