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Pope Leo XIV Appoints Bishop James Checchio as Coadjutor Archbishop of New Orleans
Pope Leo XIV has appointed Most Reverend James F. Checchio, bishop of Metuchen, as Coadjutor Archbishop of New Orleans.
Starts at the 6:40 Mark on the VIDEO below:
September 24, 2025
WASHINGTON - Pope Leo XIV has appointed Most Reverend James F. Checchio, bishop of Metuchen, as Coadjutor Archbishop of New Orleans.
The appointment was publicized in Washington, D.C. on September 24, 2025, by Cardinal Christophe Pierre, apostolic nuncio to the United States. Archbishop Gregory M. Aymond is the current archbishop of New Orleans, and the appointment as coadjutor archbishop confers on Bishop Checchio the right of succession for the Archdiocese of New Orleans.
The Archdiocese of New Orleans is comprised of 4,208 square miles in the State of Louisiana and has a total population of 1,263,422, of which 505,369, are Catholic.
USCCB Release
Bishop Checchio’s biography may be found below:
Most Rev. James F. Checchio, JCD, MBA
J.C.D. University of Saint Thomas Aquinas, Rome, Italy, 1998
J.C.L. University of Saint Thomas Aquinas, Rome, Italy, 1993
S.T.B. University of Saint Thomas Aquinas, Rome, Italy, 1991
B.A. University of Scranton, Scranton, Pennsylvania, 1988
Date of Birth: April 21, 1966, Camden, New Jersey
Educational Background
M.B.A. LaSalle University, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, 2004J.C.D. University of Saint Thomas Aquinas, Rome, Italy, 1998
J.C.L. University of Saint Thomas Aquinas, Rome, Italy, 1993
S.T.B. University of Saint Thomas Aquinas, Rome, Italy, 1991
B.A. University of Scranton, Scranton, Pennsylvania, 1988
Priestly Assignments
2016-present Bishop, Diocese of Metuchen, Metuchen, New Jersey
2006-2016 Rector, Pontifical North American College, Rome
2003-2005 Vice Rector for Administration, Pontifical North American College, Rome
2002-2003 Episcopal Vicar for Administration, Diocese of Camden
2001-2003 Administrator, Holy Spirit Church, Atlantic City, New Jersey
1999-2003 Moderator of the Curia, Diocese of Camden
1999 Secretary to Bishop Nicholas DiMarzio, Ph.D., D.D., Diocese of Camden
1998-2001 Director, Office of Communications, Diocese of Camden
1997-1999 Secretary to Bishop James T. McHugh, S.T.D., Diocese of Camden
1997-2003 Vice Chancellor, Diocese of Camden
1997-2003 Defender of the Bond, Tribunal, Diocese of Camden
1997-1998 Assistant Director, Public Relations and Telecommunications, Diocese of Camden
1995-1997 Graduate Studies, Casa Santa Maria, North American College, Rome, Italy
1993-1995 Parochial Vicar, Saint Agnes, Blackwood, New Jersey
1992-1993 Graduate Studies, North American College, Rome, Italy
June 20, 1992 Ordained a Priest of the Diocese of Camden
Other Appointments
2025- Member, Holy See Dicastery for the Clergy
2024- Member, Executive Committee, Basilica of the National Shrine of the
Immaculate Conception
2024- Chairman, Development Committee, Basilica of the National Shrine of the
Immaculate Conception
2023- Member, Papal Foundation Board of Trustees
2019- Member, Business School Board of Visitors, Catholic University of America
2017- President, Janiculum Hill Foundation
2016- Member, Board of Trustees, Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception, Washington, DC
2016- Vice President, Janiculum Hill Foundation
2016- Member, Seton Hall University Board of Regents
2016- Member, Seton Hall University Board of Overseers for Immaculate
Conception Seminary
2016- Member Board of Directors, National Catholic Bioethics Center
2011- Appointed Prelate of Honor, Pope Benedict XVI
2001-2003- Catholic Chaplain, Philadelphia Eagles (NFL), Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
2002-2012- Member, International Dominican Foundation Board
2000-2003- Member, Investment Committee, Diocese of Camden
2000-2003- Member, Diocesan Finance Council, Diocese of Camden
2000-2003- Member, Governance Board, Vicariate for Human Services, Diocese of Camden
2000- Appointed Chaplain to His Holiness, Pope John Paul II
1999-2003- New Jersey State Chaplain, Order Sons of Italy in America
1999-2003- Member, College of Consultors, Diocese of Camden
1999-2003- Member, Presbyteral Council, Diocese of Camden
USCCB Committee Membership
2022- 2025: Conference Treasurer and Chairman, Committee on Budget and Finance
2022- 2025: Vice Chairman, Committee on Priorities and Plans
2022- 2025: Member, Executive Committee
2021-2022: Bishops Advisory Group on the Eucharistic Revival
2021-2022: Consultant, Ad Hoc Committee Against Racism
2020-2022: Chairman, Audit Subcommittee for Budget & Finance
2019- 2025 : Member, Administrative Committee
2019-2022: Chairman, Committee on Clergy, Consecrated Life & Vocations
2017-2022: Member, Committee on Budget & Finance
2016-2019: Member, Committee on Clergy, Consecrated Life & Vocations
2016 : Reviewer, Subcommittee for Catechism
2016-present Bishop, Diocese of Metuchen, Metuchen, New Jersey
2006-2016 Rector, Pontifical North American College, Rome
2003-2005 Vice Rector for Administration, Pontifical North American College, Rome
2002-2003 Episcopal Vicar for Administration, Diocese of Camden
2001-2003 Administrator, Holy Spirit Church, Atlantic City, New Jersey
1999-2003 Moderator of the Curia, Diocese of Camden
1999 Secretary to Bishop Nicholas DiMarzio, Ph.D., D.D., Diocese of Camden
1998-2001 Director, Office of Communications, Diocese of Camden
1997-1999 Secretary to Bishop James T. McHugh, S.T.D., Diocese of Camden
1997-2003 Vice Chancellor, Diocese of Camden
1997-2003 Defender of the Bond, Tribunal, Diocese of Camden
1997-1998 Assistant Director, Public Relations and Telecommunications, Diocese of Camden
1995-1997 Graduate Studies, Casa Santa Maria, North American College, Rome, Italy
1993-1995 Parochial Vicar, Saint Agnes, Blackwood, New Jersey
1992-1993 Graduate Studies, North American College, Rome, Italy
June 20, 1992 Ordained a Priest of the Diocese of Camden
Other Appointments
2025- Member, Holy See Dicastery for the Clergy
2024- Member, Executive Committee, Basilica of the National Shrine of the
Immaculate Conception
2024- Chairman, Development Committee, Basilica of the National Shrine of the
Immaculate Conception
2023- Member, Papal Foundation Board of Trustees
2019- Member, Business School Board of Visitors, Catholic University of America
2017- President, Janiculum Hill Foundation
2016- Member, Board of Trustees, Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception, Washington, DC
2016- Vice President, Janiculum Hill Foundation
2016- Member, Seton Hall University Board of Regents
2016- Member, Seton Hall University Board of Overseers for Immaculate
Conception Seminary
2016- Member Board of Directors, National Catholic Bioethics Center
2011- Appointed Prelate of Honor, Pope Benedict XVI
2001-2003- Catholic Chaplain, Philadelphia Eagles (NFL), Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
2002-2012- Member, International Dominican Foundation Board
2000-2003- Member, Investment Committee, Diocese of Camden
2000-2003- Member, Diocesan Finance Council, Diocese of Camden
2000-2003- Member, Governance Board, Vicariate for Human Services, Diocese of Camden
2000- Appointed Chaplain to His Holiness, Pope John Paul II
1999-2003- New Jersey State Chaplain, Order Sons of Italy in America
1999-2003- Member, College of Consultors, Diocese of Camden
1999-2003- Member, Presbyteral Council, Diocese of Camden
USCCB Committee Membership
2022- 2025: Conference Treasurer and Chairman, Committee on Budget and Finance
2022- 2025: Vice Chairman, Committee on Priorities and Plans
2022- 2025: Member, Executive Committee
2021-2022: Bishops Advisory Group on the Eucharistic Revival
2021-2022: Consultant, Ad Hoc Committee Against Racism
2020-2022: Chairman, Audit Subcommittee for Budget & Finance
2019- 2025 : Member, Administrative Committee
2019-2022: Chairman, Committee on Clergy, Consecrated Life & Vocations
2017-2022: Member, Committee on Budget & Finance
2016-2019: Member, Committee on Clergy, Consecrated Life & Vocations
2016 : Reviewer, Subcommittee for Catechism
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