The Very Rev. Ronald D. Witherup, a Franklin native, has been elected superior general of the Society of the Priests of St. Sulpice.

Delegates from 11 countries appointed Witherup to the post at a meeting near Paris.

Witherup, 58, is a priest of the diocese of Erie, a scripture scholar and the author of many books and articles on scriptures. He has served since 1997 as provincial superior of the Society of St. Sulpice, province of the U.S.

Witherup was ordained in 1976 and has been a member of the Society of St. Sulpice since 1981.

Witherup, who hold a number of other academic and professional positions, succeeds the Very Rev. Lawrence B. Terrien, who has completed his second six-year term as superior general. Terrien was the first priest from the U.S. to serve as superior general of the Society of St. Sulpice, which is an international community of Roman Catholic diocesan priests founded in France in 1641 and dedicated to the formation of priests and future priests.