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Tobin to leave Indiana to be Newark, New Jersey cardinal

INDIANAPOLIS (AP) – The archbishop of Indianapolis, who defied a governor and now vice president-elect over accepting Syrian refugees into Indiana, has been named cardinal.

Joseph Tobin has been leader of the Indianapolis archdiocese for nearly four years. He was named cardinal Saturday by Pope Francis to lead the Newark, New Jersey archdiocese .

Tobin made headlines in December 2015 when then-Gov. Mike Pence argued that Syrian refugees being resettled in the United States had not gotten proper background reviews, opening the door to potential terrorists.

After a meeting with the Republican governor, Tobin informed Pence that his archdiocese would welcome the husband, wife and two children fleeing war.

The 64-year-old Tobin was born in Detroit. He was ordained in 1978.