Boston ? Bishop Sean O’Malley, a Francisan friar known for healing dioceses racked by clerical sex abuse, was selected Tuesday to take on the toughest assignment in the American church — bringing the Boston Archdiocese back from the worst of the nationwide molestation scandals.

Pope John Paul II named O’Malley as the next archbishop of Boston, succeeding Cardinal Bernard Law, who resigned last December.

Law’s reputation was damaged beyond repair by revelations that he allowed Roman Catholic priests accused of molestation to be moved from parish to parish, while hiding the charges from the laity. The problems in Boston quickly spread to other dioceses, creating a national crisis.

O’Malley now must put the archdiocese back together, and he immediately started Tuesday.

Within hours of his appointment being announced, O’Malley had a news conference where he apologized and pledged to ensure the safety of children within the church. Then he met privately with some victims.

O’Malley, 59, has won praise for cracking down on sex abuse in his two previous assignments — in neighboring Fall River and then in Palm Beach, Fla.

About 500 abuse-related lawsuits are still pending against the archdiocese. O’Malley vowed to resolve the suits, which have been hung up in negotiations for months.

Even if it’s not a legal obligation, the bishop said, there remains a moral obligation: “We must step up to the plate. People’s lives are more important than money.”