Summary
Pope Francis has appointed Bishop James Golka, who was previously the third bishop of Colorado Springs, to succeed Archbishop Samuel Aquila as the new leader of the Denver Archdiocese. Golka’s appointment came after Aquila submitted his resignation on September 24 due to reaching his mandatory retirement age at 75. The Vatican announced the change on February 7th and made it public in Washington by Cardinal Christophe Pierre, who is the apostolic nuncio to the United States. This transfer of leadership in Denver’s Catholic Archdiocese has been received with joy and gratitude by the archdiocese. Golka, born on September 22, 1966, previously served as the bishop of Colorado Springs for almost two years before taking this new role. In his statement, Golka expressed his excitement about leading the Denver Archdiocese while acknowledging his departure from Colorado Springs, where he has built strong connections with both people and parishes. Prior to becoming a bishop, Golka studied philosophy and theology at Creighton University in Omaha, Nebraska, where Jesuit priests played an influential role in guiding him towards priestly vocation. During his tenure as bishop of Colorado Springs, Golka implemented various initiatives including weekly religious reflections for parishioners and establishing the first diocesan shrine dedicated to Our Lady of Guadalupe.
Key Topics
Vatican City, Bishop Golka, Denver Archdiocese
