Archbishop
Richard W. Smith
Honorary Patron of Catholic Street Missionaries
On February 25, 2025, Pope Francis appointed Archbishop Smith to the Metropolitan See of Vancouver. He was formally installed as the 12th Archbishop of Vancouver on May 23, 2025, the 38th anniversary of his priestly ordination.
Early Life, Education, and Priestly Ministry
Formation, Academic Achievement, and Service in Halifax
Archbishop Richard W. Smith was born in Halifax, Nova Scotia on April 28, 1959. He studied at Saint Mary’s University, graduating with a bachelor’s degree in commerce and at the Atlantic School of Theology in Halifax, where he earned a Master of Divinity degree in 1985. Ordained to the priesthood on May 23, 1987 for the Archdiocese of Halifax, he pursued further studies in theology at the Pontifical Gregorian University in Rome and earned a licentiate degree in 1993 and a doctorate in 1998. Within the Archdiocese of Halifax, he served in a number of positions including vicar general and he was responsible for the pastoral ministry of French-speaking Catholics in Halifax. Archbishop Smith was chaplain to the deaf community in Halifax from 1986-1991. He was also a professor of theology at St. Peter’s Seminary in London, Ontario in addition to serving simultaneously as pastor of three communities.
Episcopal Ministry
From Bishop of Pembroke to Archbishop of Edmonton, then Vancouver
After some fruitful years of ministry in the Archdiocese of Halifax, he was appointed Bishop of Pembroke on April 27, 2002 by Pope St. John Paul II and ordained to the episcopate on June 18, 2002. He received his episcopal consecration on the following June 18 from Archbishop Marcel Gervais, with Archbishops Terrence Prendergast, S.J., and Austin-Emile Burke serving as co-consecrators. Pope Benedict XVI appointed him to the Metropolitan See of Edmonton on March 22, 2007. Archbishop Richard Smith was formally installed as the seventh Archbishop of Edmonton on May 1, 2007, Feast of St. Joseph the Worker, the patron saint of the Edmonton Archdiocese. He took the motto “Fiat Voluntas Tua” (Thy Will Be Done). Archbishop Smith served as General Coordinator of Pope Francis’ historic visit to Canada, July 24–29, 2022. This was the fourth papal visit to Canada and the first since Saint John Paul II’s journey in 2002. The Holy Father’s pilgrimage focused on Indigenous healing and reconciliation while also providing the shepherd of the world’s 1.2 billion Catholics an opportunity to encounter the faithful in Canada. On February 25, 2025, Pope Francis appointed Archbishop Smith to the Metropolitan See of Vancouver. He was formally installed as the 12th Archbishop of Vancouver on May 23, 2025, the 38th anniversary of his priestly ordination.
Leadership and Service to the Church
National Leadership, Indigenous Initiatives, and Catholic Organizations
Archbishop Smith was the president of the Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops from 2011 to 2013. He has also been a member and chairman of the Episcopal Commission for Christian Education, and spiritual adviser to the Catholic Women’s League of Canada. Archbishop Smith is currently a member of the Board of the Canadian Catholic Bioethics Institute. At the level of the CCCB, the Archbishop currently serves as a member of the Canadian Catholic Indigenous Council and as chair of the Ad Hoc Committee for the Coordination of Indigenous Initiatives. Archbishop Smith also serves on the board of directors for the Catholic Near East Welfare Association (CNEWA).
