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Pope Leo XIV Accepts Resignation of Archbishop Gregory Aymond of New Orleans; Succeeded by Coadjutor Archbishop James Checchio
Posted on 02/11/2026 07:30 AM (USCCB News Releases)
WASHINGTON – Pope Leo XIV has accepted the resignation of Most Reverend Gregory M. Aymond, 76, from the Office of Archbishop of New Orleans. On the same day, Coadjutor Archbishop James F. Checchio, will assume the pastoral governance of the archdiocese.
The announcement was publicized in Washington, D.C. on February 11, 2026, by Cardinal Christophe Pierre, apostolic nuncio to the United States.
Archbishop Checchio’ biography may be found here.
The Archdiocese of New Orleans is comprised of 4,208 square miles in the State of Louisiana.
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Pope Leo XIV: ‘The Church is the rightful home of Sacred Scripture’
Posted on 02/11/2026 04:30 AM (CNA Daily News - Vatican)
‘I will not forget you’: Pope Leo’s theme for sixth World Day of Grandparents and Elderly
Posted on 02/10/2026 14:10 PM (CNA Daily News - Vatican)
Pope Leo sends 80 generators, medicine, food to Ukraine
Posted on 02/10/2026 09:25 AM (CNA Daily News - Vatican)
Pope Leo XIV approves new statutes of Pontifical International Marian Academy
Posted on 02/9/2026 16:25 PM (CNA Daily News - Vatican)
Pope Leo XIV prays for victims of attacks in Nigeria
Posted on 02/9/2026 10:14 AM (CNA Daily News - Vatican)
Pope has no plans to travel to U.S. in 2026, Vatican says
Posted on 02/9/2026 07:30 AM (USCCB News Releases)
VATICAN CITY (CNS) – Pope Leo XIV will not travel to the United States this year, the head of the Holy See Press Office said Feb. 8.
Vatican observers had speculated about whether the first American pope would return to the United States during his first full year as pontiff, particularly as some news outlets reported that he might visit in September to coincide with the U.N. General Assembly in New York, a meeting attended by each of his three most recent predecessors during their pontificates.
But, Matteo Bruni, director of the Holy See Press Office, told reporters that no U.S. trip is planned for 2026 when asked about the pope’s travel schedule.
Recent popes have all traveled to the United States at least once, making such visits an expected trip for modern papacies.
St. John Paul II visited the United States frequently, traveling to the country seven times during his pontificate and making stops across the nation. During those visits, he met with President Jimmy Carter at the White House and President Ronald Reagan in Alaska.
Pope Benedict XVI visited the United States once, spending six days in April 2008, during which he met with President George W. Bush in Washington and addressed the U.N. General Assembly in New York. Pope Francis also made a single six-day visit in 2015, becoming the first pontiff to address a joint session of Congress. He also traveled to Washington D.C., New York and Philadelphia.
St. Paul VI was the first pope to visit the United States in 1965. He made a historic address to the United Nations General Assembly in New York, met with President Lyndon B. Johnson and celebrated Mass at Yankee Stadium.
Since his election in May 2025, Pope Leo has taken one international trip to Turkey and Lebanon, a six-day trip previously planned before his predecessor's passing last year. The November trip included meetings with civil and religious leaders, visits to holy sites, and prayer at the Port of Beirut, where a 2020 explosion killed 218 people and injured more than 7,000.
While the Vatican has not made any official announcements, a number of local sources have suggested how Pope Leo’s 2026 calendar may already be taking shape with potential trips to Africa, Spain and South America.
Last month, Cardinal Jean-Paul Vesco of Algiers told reporters outside the Vatican's Paul VI Audience Hall Jan. 8 that a papal visit to Algeria was “on track” and would occur in “the first part of 2026.” Archbishop Kryspin Witold Dubiel, the apostolic nuncio to Angola, has also said the pope accepted invitations from both Church and government officials to visit the country.
Spanish Cardinal José Cobo of Madrid told reporters in January that Pope Leo is also expected to visit Spain this year, and will likely include stops in Madrid, Barcelona and the Canary Islands.
The president of Peru's Catholic bishops, Bishop Carlos Garcia Camader, told reporters in Lima Feb. 4 that a papal trip to Peru was "very probable" in November or the first week of December, according to Reuters. The Vatican typically makes an official announcement of a papal trip at least a month before the expected departure.
Pope Leo XIV will not travel to the United States in 2026, Vatican says
Posted on 02/8/2026 07:49 AM (CNA Daily News - Vatican)
Cuba’s bishops headed to Vatican this month to meet with Pope Leo XIV
Posted on 02/7/2026 08:00 AM (CNA Daily News - Vatican)
Pope Leo XIV Accepts Resignation of Archbishop Samuel Aquila of Denver; Appoints Bishop James Golka as Successor
Posted on 02/7/2026 07:30 AM (USCCB News Releases)
WASHINGTON – Pope Leo XIV has accepted the resignation of Most Reverend Samuel J. Aquila, 75, from the pastoral governance of the Archdiocese of Denver, and has appointed Most Reverend James R. Golka, currently bishop of Colorado Springs, as his successor.
The resignation and appointment were publicized in Washington, D.C. on February 7, 2026, by Cardinal Christophe Pierre, apostolic nuncio to the United States.
Bishop Golka’s biography may be found here.
The Archdiocese of Denver is comprised of 40,154 square miles in the State of Colorado.
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