TYLER, Texas — On Saturday, Pope Francis officially dismissed Tyler Bishop Joseph Strickland from his position and appointed Austin Bishop Joe Vásquez to serve as a temporary apostolic administrator for the Diocese of Tyler.
In September, Strickland said he would not resign from his role but would respect the decision if Pope Francis chose to remove him.
In a statement posted to the website for the Diocese of Austin, Bishop Vásquez explained how he would support the Diocese of Tyler pending the appointment of a new bishop.
There is no prescribed time in which a new Bishop of Tyler will be appointed, leaving it to the hands of Pope Francis to make the call.
The Prelates conducted an exhaustive inquiry into all aspects of the governance and leadership of the Diocese of Tyler by its Ordinary, Bishop Joseph Strickland."

Austin Bishop Joe Vásquez to temporarily oversee Diocese of Tyler after ouster of Bishop Joseph Strickland