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By Neil McDonough and André Escaleira, Jr. On Saturday, February 7, the Vatican announced that Pope Leo had accepted Archbishop Samuel J. Aquila's request to retire and had named Most Reverend James R. Golka , currently Bishop of Colorado Springs, as the sixth Archbishop of Denver. Later that morning, the archbishop-designate was introduced to the faithful of Northern Colorado in a press conference held at the Cardinal Stafford Library at St. John Vianney Seminary in Denver

(Photo: © Vatican Media) Last month, Pope Leo XIV received more than 1,000 itinerant catechists in an audience in the Hall of Blessings, responsible for the Neocatechumenal Way in 138 nations on five continents. The papal audience came at the end of a gathering held at the “Servant of Yahweh” Center in Porto San Giorgio under the guidance of the team responsible for the Neocatechumenal Way worldwide, and included Kiko Argüello, founder of the Neocatecumenal Way, as well as Fa

On Saturday, February 7, the Vatican announced that Pope Leo XIV had accepted Archbishop Samuel J. Aquila's request to retire and had appointed Most Reverend James R. Golka , currently Bishop of Colorado Springs, as the sixth Archbishop of Denver. That same morning, the Archdiocese of Denver hosted a press conference to introduce Northern Colorado's newest shepherd at the Cardinal Stafford Library at St. John Vianney Theological Seminary in Denver. In the conference, Archbi

Pope Leo XIV’s prayer intention for the month of February is for children with incurable diseases. Pope Leo prays during Mass at the Vatican on the Feast of the Presentation of the Lord. (CNS photo/Vatican Media) By Francesca Pollio-Fenton/EWTN News Pope Leo XIV’s prayer intention for the month of February is for children with incurable diseases. In a video to be released on Feb. 5, the Holy Father prayed that the faithful would realize that “the smiles, even in the midst of

On Saturday, February 7, Pope Leo XIV accepted Archbishop Samuel J. Aquila's request to retire and appointed Bishop James R. Golka, currently Bishop of the Diocese of Colorado Springs, as the Archdiocese of Denver's sixth archbishop. (Photo by Daniel Petty/Denver Catholic) “If we don’t pray first, we’re going to be lost. So let’s pray,” Denver’s next archbishop began on Saturday morning.  Mere hours before, the Vatican announced that Pope Leo XIV had accepted Archbishop Samu

(Photo courtesy of the Diocese of Colorado Springs) DENVER — Pope Leo XIV has named Bishop James R. Golka as the sixth Archbishop of Denver, the Holy See announced early February 7, 2026.  Archbishop-designate Golka, 59, is the current Bishop of the Diocese of Colorado Springs. He will succeed Archbishop Samuel J. Aquila, 75, who has been chief shepherd of the Archdiocese of Denver since 2012.  Archbishop Aquila’s retirement — which he offered to the pope upon his 75th birthd

(Denver Catholic file photo) February 7, 2026  My Brothers and Sisters,  As I prepare to enter retirement, my heart is filled above all with gratitude — to God, to the priests and deacons of this local Church, to consecrated women and men, and to the lay faithful who have walked together as missionary disciples in Northern Colorado. From the beginning of my ministry here, I have been convinced that the Lord is at work among us, calling us ever more deeply to conversion, commu

Then-Bishop James R. Golka preaches during Mass at SEEK26 in Denver. (Photo by Grant Whitty/Courtesy of FOCUS) Archbishop-designate James R. Golka was born September 22, 1966, in Grand Island, Nebraska, the fourth of 10 children born to Robert and the late Patricia Golka. He graduated from Grand Island Central Catholic High School and attended Creighton University in Omaha, Nebraska, from 1985-89, where he earned degrees in philosophy and theology.  He served as a Jesuit lay

Then-Bishop James R. Golka blesses attendees at Mass at SEEK26 in Denver. (Photo by Madisen Martinez/Courtesy of FOCUS) Habemus archiepiscopum! We have an archbishop!  On Saturday morning, the Vatican and the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) announced that Pope Leo XIV had accepted Archbishop Samuel J. Aquila’s request to retire from pastoral governance of the Archdiocese of Denver after nearly 14 years of service. At the same time, the Holy Father appoin

Together, as one Body in Christ, the Church is called to an active love, which flows from encounter and compassion, just as it did for the Good Samaritan. Locally, that compassionate care will take shape at the annual World Day for the Sick Mass on February 15. Denver Auxiliary Bishop Jorge Rodríguez anoints a Massgoer during the annual World Day for the Sick Mass at Holy Ghost Parish in Denver. (Photo by Daniel Petty/Denver Catholic) It’s an uncharacteristically warm winter

In his message for World Mission Day, the pope says missionary renewal depends on spiritual communion and reconciliation among Christians. Pope Leo XIV, when he was bishop of Chiclayo (Peru), recites the prayer of consecration before Our Lady of Fatima. (Photo: Courtesy of Fátima Mission Peru via EWTN News) By Angela Ambrogetti/EWTN News Pope Leo XIV has set “One in Christ, United in Mission” as the theme for World Mission Day 2026, marking the 100th anniversary of the annual

Entering the Special Year of St. Francis through poverty, death and joy in Christ St. Francis of Assisi in His Tomb , 1630/34 by Francisco de Zurbarán (Spanish, 1598–1664). Oil on canvas. Milwaukee Art Museum. (Photo: Wikimedia Commons / Public Domain) With our coattails nearly brushing the closing Jubilee Doors, Pope Leo has proclaimed a Special Year of St. Francis of Assisi . From January 10, 2026, to January 10, 2027, the faithful who, along with the usual sacraments, unde

“Have no fear! Trust in the Lord.” Pope Leo XIV waves at a massive, jubilant crowd gathered on St. Peter’s Square for the Regina Coeli on Sunday, May 11, 2025. (Photo: Daniel Ibáñez/CNA) Back in the day, when the New Yorker  set the standard for literary elegance among serious American journals, writers were driven to distraction by the fanatical fact-checking characteristic of the magazine’s gimlet-eyed editors. But the old New Yorker  ain’t what she used to be. Evidence is

As tens of thousands of Catholics gathered for SEEK 2026 across Denver, Columbus and Fort Worth, they were united not only by worship and fellowship, but by a special message from the Successor of Peter himself. In a recorded video address shared with conference attendees, Pope Leo XIV offered words of encouragement, prayer and hope to the participants taking part in the national conference hosted by FOCUS. The Holy Father’s message resonated deeply with the conference’s the

Pope Leo XIV's first exhortation reminds us that the poor are not a problem to fix, but persons to love — and that every act of service begins with conversion of heart. (Photo courtesy of Christ in the City) By Philip Couture Director of Formation Christ in the City There’s a question that has defined all my years in Denver:   “How do I serve the poor?”   That’s probably not the question that follows most people through the Mile High City, but it marked my very first days her

(Photo: Vatican Media) By Hannah Brockhaus/CNA In the first major document of his pontificate , Pope Leo XIV writes that the poor are not...

Father Richard Anthony D’Souza steps into a role this month that has been shaped by Jesuits who have bridged science and faith for...

Denver Archbishop Samuel J. Aquila met Pope Leo XIV on a recent trip to Rome and assured him of the Archdiocese of Denver's prayers....

(Photo: Pexels) Pope Leo XIV’s spiritual lodestar is St. Augustine. In his first months in office, the Holy Father summoned the Church to...

Pope Leo XIV greets a young papal admirer in St. Peter’s Basilica during the general audience on Wednesday, Aug. 20, 2025, at the...