IN DEPTH | Archbishop Joseph Kurtz reflects on his time leading the Archdiocese of Louisville

LOUISVILLE, Ky. (WDRB) -- The Louisville Catholic community is about to have a new leader guiding its journey of faith.

Shelton Fabre will be installed as Louisville's archbishop Wednesday.

For the past 15 years, Archbishop Joseph Kurtz has led the archdiocese through tough social issues, even through his own serious health issues. Since announcing his retirement, Kurtz has had time to reflect on the people he's met and served. He said he is thankful for those God has placed in his life and the relationships he's been able to build throughout the years.

"I don't think I'll ever fully appreciate all of them," he said. "And you are asking me at a good time, because people are writing to me and that I have served over 45 years and it's opening a new chapter. I think how beautiful it is to be able to recall these."

Back in 2019, the Archdiocese of Louisville released a report about sexual abuse involving children going back decades. The report named 48 priests, 22 of which had "substantiated" cases of sexual abuse. Kurtz said he's grateful for how they engaged an independent investigator to present the findings so a safe environment in handling the issue could be ensured.

He said now, he would probably do something differently. Each morning, he tries to have a holy hour or holy 15 minutes to bring the issues to God.

Kurtz knows he can't do everything himself, but decisions have to be made.

"The matter of treating people, especially victim survivors, with dignity will never be settled," Kurtz said. "That's an ongoing pastoral challenge and, I would say, opportunity to be able to heal wounds."

Kurtz was also diagnosed with prostate and bladder cancer in 2019. He then underwent several rounds of treatment at Duke Cancer Center in North Carolina.

His cancer hasn't returned in two years.

"I do have to keep humble on these things, because you never know what's going to happen," he said. "At this point, thank God, because of the prayers and the good care that I've received, I'm cancer-free and feeling good."

Earlier this year, Fabre was appointed as the first Black archbishop to lead the Archdiocese of Louisville. He'll be the fifth person to hold the position after leading the Diocese of Houma-Thibodaux for over eight years.

"I think the world of him," Kurtz said. "I think he's a listener. He's very intelligent. He's someone with a good pastoral heart. So he has the heart of a pastor. That's a good thing, a good spirituality."

Kurtz said he's going to get out of town for about five months to give Fabre enough time to get settled as the new archbishop.

The mass where Fabre will be installed as the archbishop begins at 2 p.m. Wednesday at the Kentucky International Convention Center.

Tickets are not required to attend.

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