BURLINGTON, Vt. (AP) – Salvatore Matano, appointed a bishop by Pope John Paul II, will forever be linked to John Paul’s successor.

Matano’s formal ordination ceremony Tuesday opened soon after white smoke poured from the chimney atop the Sistine Chapel and the bells of St. Peter’s announced the election of the new pope.

“This is a historic day,” declared the Most Rev. Kenneth Angell, who has served as bishop of Vermont since 1992, as the ceremony opened in Saint Joseph Co-Cathedral.

“The cardinals have elected a new pope,” he announced, prompting wide and sustained applause from the audience of some 1,500.

“He has been Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger and he has chosen the name of Benedict the 16th,” said Angell as the gathering again broke out in sustained applause.

“We thank God for this man,” Angell said.

The bishop then said of Matano, “I was thinking probably this man is the first to be made a bishop under the new pope.”

Matano, 58, will serve as coadjutor, or assistant, bishop to Angell and then take over the diocese of 148,000 Catholics on Angell’s retirement, scheduled for August when he turns 75.

Matano was born in Providence and did his seminary studies at the Our Lady of Providence Seminary College in Warwick, R.I., and at the Pontifical Gregorian University in Rome.

He was ordained a priest in 1971 and served in several posts in the Diocese of Providence, including parish pastor, teacher at Our Lady of Providence Seminary High School, high-ranking administrator in the diocese and lecturer at Providence College at both the undergraduate and graduate levels.

In 2000, Matano moved to Washington, where he has served as secretary to the papal nuncio, who represents the Vatican in its dealings with the U.S. government.

The nuncio, Archbishop Gabriel Montalvo, presided over the ordination and praised Matano for his work in Washington, which he termed “the most interesting chapter of your priesthood.”

“In moments that were not always easy, your wise counsel and brilliant perspective made (my) responsibilities less burdensome,” he said.

“I wish to thank you for the valued, capable, dedicated service, the efficient and extensive assistance you provided me,” he said.

“Thanks for so many hours of extraordinary work. Thanks for burning the midnight oil so many times…Thanks also for your heart, your clever wit and your sense of humor.”

As part of the ceremony, Matano laid face down before the alter to show humility. He then knelt before Montalvo, who placed his hands on Matano’s head. Roughly 40 bishops from around the country followed, filing by to lay their own palms on the bishop-elect’s head.

Montalvo then anointed Matano’s head, placed a ring on the newly ordained bishop’s finger, a miter, or bishop’s headdress on his head, and presented him with a gold pastoral staff, which belonged to the first bishop of Burlington.

The church broke out in long applause as the new bishop paraded through the aisles and downstairs to a room where nearly 500 watched the ceremony on television.

Matano then spoke to the congregation with warmth and humor, thanked the priests for their service and pleaded with those estranged from the church to “please come home.”

“It is the responsibility of every baptized Catholic to fulfill faithfully what Christ expects of us as his followers. These obligations begin with the most importance of obligations … This obligation is to attend Mass faithfully every single week,” he said.

“This is this faith I see in you brothers and sisters. Always faithful to the church in every circumstance, in every place. You are beloved by God.”

Also attending were Boston Archbishop Sean O’Malley, several other archbishops, roughly 145 priests, numerous other religious leaders, as well as several state political leaders, including Gov. James Douglas and Lt. Gov. Brian Dubie.