On April 10, 2008, Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI appointed Bishop Richard Pates the ninth bishop of the Diocese of Des Moines. On that day, Bishop Pates outlined his thoughts as the shepherd for the Catholic diocese of central and southwest Iowa.

"It might reasonably be asked, do I have any themes or priorities that I anticipate will characterize my ministry in Des Moines. Naturally, the first is commitment to my role as pastor - maintaining openness to situations and needs of the moment."

Since his installation on May 29, 2008, Bishop Pates' priorities have been:

• Building up a vocation culture that invites everyone to play a role
• Reaching out to newcomers, particularly Spanish-speaking people
• Educating and experiencing evangelization
• Engaging youth and young adults as vibrant and valued members of the faith community