Mark Hagemoen named bishop of N.W.T. diocese

Pope Francis has named Vancouver priest Mark Hagemoen as bishop of Mackenzie Fort Smith, the largest diocese in Canada.

Before being namedBishop-elect, Hagemoen waspresident of Corpus Christi and St. Marks Colleges, two Catholic colleges inVancouver.

Hagemoen isthe first Canadian episcopal appointment by Pope Francis.

At more than 1.5 million square kilometres, the diocese of Mackenzie Fort Smith covers most of the N.W.T and parts of Nunavut and Saskatchewan.

It is the largest diocese in Canada. According tothe 2013 Directory of the Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops, the area has a Catholic population of 20,110.