The Knoxville Diocese says that Pope Francis has appointed 61-year-old Father James Mark Beckman as the next Bishop of the Diocese of Knoxville.

Bishop-elect Beckman has been a priest of the Diocese of Nashville for more than 30 years and is a Tennessee native born in Lawrenceburg.

Beckman will be the fourth Bishop of the Diocese of Knoxville following Bishop Richard Stika who resigned in June of last year after an alleged sex abuse coverup and alleged mishandling of sexual abuse allegations.