How the Church Chooses a New Archbishop: A Guide for Denver Catholics
- Denver Catholic Staff
- Aug 16
- 4 min read
Updated: Sep 18
This fall, Archbishop Samuel J. Aquila is set to submit his request to retire upon turning 75 on Sept. 24, in accord with canon 401 §1 of the Code of Canon Law. Though we don’t yet know when Pope Leo will accept it — or who will succeed him — we do know a bit about how the Church discerns and appoints bishops and archbishops.
Here are the key steps in the selection process:
Local Consultation and Confidential Listening
The journey often begins quietly at the diocesan level. As the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) explains, the apostolic nuncio (the pope’s ambassador in the U.S.) requests a report from the current bishop detailing the diocese's conditions and needs. The report may include recommendations from the retiring bishop, which will be considered in the process.
Nuncio’s Vetting
The apostolic nuncio reaches out to bishops, priests, deacons, and laity in the region under the “pontifical seal” to consult with them on the diocese’s needs. These consultations may include individuals within the diocese, previous bishops of the diocese, other bishops in the province, the president and vice president of the USCCB and other archbishops in the United States.
With the information gathered from these consultations, the nuncio’s list is narrowed, context and information are added, and feedback is sought through confidential questionnaires exploring leadership qualities, pastoral zeal, theological orthodoxy, health and character. Typically, 25–30 individuals participate in this process.
Submitting the Terna: Three Names Go to Rome
After this lengthy process of information gathering, the nuncio reviews the materials and a report — the terna — is prepared for the Dicastery of Bishops in Rome, listing the three candidates alphabetically, noting the nuncio’s preference.
Roman Review
Twice a month, usually on Thursdays, the Dicastery for Bishops meets to discuss the various episcopal openings and candidates and votes upon whom to recommend to the Holy Father. A cardinal relator presents the various candidates to the dicastery, who can vote to accept the nuncio’s recommendation, select another of the listed candidates or request a fresh terna.
Pope Leo’s Input
Ultimately, only the pope has the authority to appoint bishops and archbishops, so once input has been received and reviewed, the prefect of the Dicastery for Bishops — the position Pope Leo XIV held prior to his election as pontiff — presents the recommendations to the Holy Father in a private audience, usually held on a Saturday.
The pope then usually takes a few days to prayerfully consider the recommendations before informing the Dicastery of his decision. He might select one of the three candidates recommended by the Dicastery or ask for a different list entirely.
The Call of a Lifetime
Once a name is chosen, the Vatican informs the nuncio, who privately contacts the priest or bishop selected. The call can oftentimes be jarring — with some priests initially thinking it’s a spam call!
In the case of a new archbishop, it is most often the case that a bishop from another diocese would be transferred to lead the vacant archdiocese.
Announcement and Installation
If the selected priest or bishop accepts the appointment, the Vatican makes a plan to announce the new diocesan shepherd in conjunction with the local diocese.
For a new archbishop — such as Denver’s incoming shepherd — the installation and other requisite rites follow the announcement. In those rites, he takes possession of his new cathedral — the Cathedral Basilica of the Immaculate Conception in Denver — and takes up his seat in the cathedra there, marking the formal beginning of his ministry.
A Process Rooted in Prayer and Communion
Although 6–8 months may pass from the initial consultation to the appointment, the lengthy process of discernment shows just how seriously the Church takes the appointment of bishops, the successors of the apostles, guided by the Holy Spirit and serving in the image of Christ the Good Shepherd.
As Archbishop Aquila has often emphasized, true shepherds — whether bishops or local pastors — are men of deep faith, trust and charity, pastoral warmth and doctrinal fidelity. The ideal candidate is not one who seeks the role, but one whom the Church, in prayer and consultation, believes is chosen by God.
How You Can Pray for the Transition
For Archbishop Aquila: thank God for his 12 years of leadership and pray for spiritual refreshment and clarity as he discerns what comes next.
For Pope Leo and the Dicastery: that the Holy Spirit guides their deliberations and choices.
For the future archbishop: that his heart be formed by love for Christ and his Church.
For the Archdiocese of Denver: that our local Church may receive new pastoral leadership with unity, hope and faith.
In every age, Christ continues to provide shepherds for his Church. As we await our next archbishop, let us pray in hope and gratitude, confident that, through this careful and prayerful process, God already prepares a leader for Denver — a spiritual father who will teach, sanctify and shepherd with love.
