ALLENTOWN — Pope Francis did not look far when picking a new leader of the Allentown Roman Catholic Diocese.

The pope today appointed Monsignor Alfred Schlert as the fifth bishop of Allentown. Schlert is the first priest in the diocese to be appointed as bishop.

The 55-year-old has been serving as the diocesan administrator since the pope named his predecessor bishop of Rockville Centre, N.Y.