Abp. Hebda reported to be likely successor of Cdl Wuerl in DC

Sources in Rome have told CNA that on his recent visit, Cardinal Wuerl presented several suggestions for his eventual replacement in Washington. While the list remains confidential, several curial sources told CNA that one bishop named was Archbishop Bernard Hebda, the Archbishop of St. Paul-Minneapolis.

Hebda arrived in Minneapolis as an emergency apostolic administrator in 2015 following the resignation of Archbishop Nienstedt, who was himself accused of sexual misconduct. At the same time, Hebda served as the coadjutor Archbishop of Newark and had been slated to succeed Archbishop John Myers.

While in Newark, Hedba gained a reputation as a reformer with a close interest in archdiocesan affairs, conducting unannounced visits to priests and parishes, and choosing to live on the campus of Seton Hall University where the archdiocesan seminary is housed.

Following his arrival in Minneapolis, Hebda brought the archdiocese through a protracted bankruptcy process, following multiple suits brought against it for cases of sexual abuse.

article at CNA

Just a tidbit on Hebda's tenure in the much troubled Newark Archdiocese:

One priest said that expectations of change were raised during the brief tenure of Archbishop Bernard Hebda, appointed in 2013 to be Myers’ coadjutor archbishop, his successor-in-waiting.

Hebda chose to live in a dormitory at Seton Hall University and was a frequent sight around the archdiocesan seminaries. He was also reported to make unannounced visits to parishes, suddenly knocking at the back doors of rectories or sliding in to a back pew at Sunday Mass.

In 2015, before Hebda could become Newark’s archbishop, he was asked to serve as apostolic administrator of Minneapolis- St. Paul, in the wake of Archbishop John Nienstedt’s resignation. Hebda was appointed Nienstedt’s permanent replacement in 2016.

“He wasn’t kidding around. You could tell he wanted to know everything, who was who and what was what - and who was into what,” one pastor who received a surprise visit from Hebda told CNA.