Pope Leo XIV on Wednesday accepted the resignation of Archbishop Gregory M. Aymond and appointed Most Reverend James F. Checchio as the 15th Archbishop of New Orleans, reports Baltimore Chronicle via Yahoo.
According to the Archdiocese of New Orleans, Aymond, 76, continued in his role for a year beyond the Catholic Church’s mandatory retirement age for bishops before his resignation was formally accepted. Pope Leo XIV had previously appointed Checchio as Coadjutor Archbishop of New Orleans on September 24, 2025. He was officially welcomed to the archdiocese during a Mass held in November last year.
In the months following his arrival, Checchio traveled extensively throughout the region, visiting parishes, schools and church ministries to meet clergy, parishioners and staff members. In a statement, Archbishop Checchio said the first three months in New Orleans passed quickly as he worked to better understand the local Church and discern how he is called to serve the archdiocese.
Checchio has also taken part in a number of longstanding local traditions. He celebrated Christmas Mass, joined caroling in Jackson Square, attended New Orleans Saints games, participated in the Sugar Bowl parade and observed a Mardi Gras parade, according to the archdiocese.
Reflecting on the region’s history, Checchio noted that the Catholic faith has remained active in Southeastern Louisiana for generations. He referred to the contributions of priests, religious men and women, and lay faithful over the years as evidence of the connection between faith and public life within the Archdiocese of New Orleans.
Checchio is scheduled to celebrate his first Mass as Archbishop of New Orleans at St. Louis Cathedral at noon on Ash Wednesday, February 18. During that liturgy, he will take his place in the cathedra, the archbishop’s chair, for the first time. The cathedra is regarded as a symbol of the archbishop’s teaching authority within the Church.
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