Most Reverend Richard Pates
Bishop Emeritus, Diocese of Des Moines
Bishop Pates was born of Donald and Lenora Pates, February 12, 1943, in Saint Paul, Minnesota.
After studying at the St. Paul Seminary and the Gregorian University in Rome while residing at the North American College, he was ordained to the priesthood on December 20, 1968, at St. Peter’s Basilica.
In the course of his ministry, Bishop Pates served for six years as Priest Secretary of the Apostolic Delegation (now Nunciature) in Washington, D.C. He then was Rector of St. John Vianney Seminary in St. Paul, Minnesota. During his time at the seminary, he served as Executive Secretary of the Papal Study of U.S. Seminaries mandated by Pope John Paul II. His term as Rector was followed by two pastorates at Our Lady of Peace Parish in Minneapolis and St. Ambrose of Woodbury in Woodbury, Minnesota.
On December 22, 2000, Bishop Pates was appointed Auxiliary Bishop of St. Paul and Minneapolis by Pope John Paul II. Subsequently he was appointed Bishop of Des Moines, Iowa, by Pope Benedict XVI on April 10, 2008. During his tenure with the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops, Bishop Pates served as Chairman of the International Justice and Peace Committee from 2011-2014.
Following his retirement in July 2019, Bishop Pates was appointed Apostolic Administrator, Diocese of Joliet, January 2020 to October 2020 and Apostolic Administrator, Diocese of Crookston, April 13 to December 6, 2021.
