By AP/KWMU
Belleville, Ill – The Belleville, Illinois diocese has a new temporary leader.
Monsignor James Margason will lead the diocese until the Pope picks a replacement for Bishop Wilton Gregory. Gregory was installed this week as Archbishop of Atlanta.
The Belleville diocese also must pick candidates to be new bishop; a process that could take at least eight months.
Gregory led the Belleville diocses and its 124 parishes for nearly eleven years.
The diocese's College of Consultors -- an eleven member board of priests -- voted 6-to-3 Wednesday to name Margason as diocese administrator.
The 63-year-old Margason also will remain as a priest at Corpus Christi Church in Shiloh.