Cardinal Joseph Tobin of Newark, New Jersey, to Undergo Surgery to Remove Kidney Mass

Cardinal Joseph W. Tobin of the Archdiocese of Newark, N.J., is set to undergo surgery to remove a kidney mass on Oct. 29, according to an archdiocesan announcement. Testing indicates the mass is confined to the kidney, and doctors are optimistic about his prognosis. Further examination following the surgery will determine its nature and any necessary next steps.

The cardinal expressed gratitude for the medical team caring for him and placed his trust in Christ. “I humbly ask for your prayers and support during this time,” he said in a statement. He expects to resume his full duties within a few weeks after the procedure.

The archdiocese requested the public’s understanding and respect for Cardinal Tobin’s privacy during this period. It asked that individuals refrain from contacting the cardinal, his family, or archdiocesan staff for interviews or information, emphasizing the importance of continued prayers.

Cardinal Tobin, a native of Detroit and a member of the Redemptorist congregation, has served as the sixth archbishop of Newark since January 2017. Before that, he was the sixth archbishop of Indianapolis from 2012 until his appointment to Newark in 2016. Pope Francis elevated him to cardinal on Nov. 19, 2016.

Throughout his career, Cardinal Tobin has held various roles within the Vatican. He served as secretary to the Dicastery for Institutes of Consecrated Life and Societies of Apostolic Life, appointed by Pope Benedict XVI in 2010. Pope Francis later named him to the Dicastery for Bishops, the Synod of Bishops, and several other Vatican bodies, including the Congregation for Catholic Education and the Pontifical Council for Culture, which were merged in 2022.

The Archdiocese of Newark covers four counties in northern New Jersey and is one of the smallest archdioceses in the U.S. by geographic area but one of the largest by Catholic population, with approximately 1.3 million Catholics in a total population of over 3.1 million.

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