on june 28, 2004, cistone was appointed an auxiliary bishop of philadelphia and titular bishop of "casae medianae" by pope john paul ii. cistone received his episcopal consecration on the following july 28 from justin cardinal rigali, with bishops robert maginnis and michael burbidge serving as co-consecrators, in the cathedral-basilica of sts. peter and paul. he selected as his episcopal motto: ""father of mercy and love"". in addition to his duties as vicar general and vicar for administration, cistone served as head of the secretariat for catholic human services and the secretariat for temporal services. he also had pastoral oversight for parishes in south philadelphia and a portion of delaware county.