A cardinal will lead the Newark Archdiocese for the first time in its history as Pope Francis named Archbishop Joseph Tobin to the position.

Archbishop Tobin transferred from Indianapolis. He will be named cardinal later this month. A cardinal is a high-ranking clergy member who is involved in choosing a new pope.

The archbishop says that he believes his new position will help to give the archdiocese a bigger voice.

"So in a certain sense they have a spokesperson who will be able to speak about the reality, the lights and the shadows," he says.

Archbishop Tobin replaces Archbishop John Myers, who will be retiring at age 75. Archbishop Myers had a controversial tenure in the position. Some critics spoke out against his expenses and for the way he handled allegations of sex abuse by members of the clergy.

"We're hoping that Cardinal Tobin will treat victims of sex abuse and particularly by clergy, with greater compassion and greater honesty and we hope he settles cases and meets with victims," says Bob Hoatson, of the sex abuse advocate group Road to Recovery.

Archbishop Tobin calls clergy sex abuse a "scourge."

An installation Mass for Cardinal-elect Tobin will be held at the Cathedral Basilica on Jan. 6.