A North Carolina bishop has been selected to lead the Catholic Diocese of Arlington, Virginia.

Pope Francis appointed Bishop Michael Burbidge to serve as the Bishop of Arlington. The 59-year-old Philadelphia native has served as the Bishop of Raleigh, North Carolina, since 2006.

Officials say the number of Catholics grew more than 40 percent to 430,000 during Burbidge's tenure and his priorities included the construction of a cathedral set to be dedicated next year.

Burbidge succeeds Bishop Paul S. Loverde, 76, who has led the diocese since 1999. A church rule requires bishops to submit letters of resignation at age 75.

Burbidge will be the fourth Bishop of Arlington when he assumes during an installation on Dec. 6, the Diocese said in a press release Tuesday.

Loverde will serve as apostolic administrator until the Mass of Installation.

The Diocese of Arlington is home to more than 600,000 Catholics in central and northern Virginia, according to the Diocese.