BREAKING Pope Leo XIV Accepts Resignation of Texas Bishop Zurek and Appoints DiNardo as Apostolic Administrator

Pope Leo XIV Accepts Resignation of Bishop Patrick Zurek of Amarillo and Appoints Cardinal Daniel DiNardo as Apostolic AdministratorPope Leo XIV has accepted the resignation of the Most Reverend Patrick J. Zurek, age 77, from the Office of Bishop of Amarillo. At the same time, he has appointed His Eminence Cardinal Daniel N. DiNardo, archbishop emeritus of Galveston-Houston, as the Apostolic Administrator of the Diocese of Amarillo to serve until the appointment and installation of the new bishop.

February 14, 2026
WASHINGTON - Pope Leo XIV has accepted the resignation of the Most Reverend Patrick J. Zurek, age 77, from the Office of Bishop of Amarillo. At the same time, he has appointed His Eminence Cardinal Daniel N. DiNardo, archbishop emeritus of Galveston-Houston, as the Apostolic Administrator of the Diocese of Amarillo to serve until the appointment and installation of the new bishop.

The resignation and appointment were publicized in Washington, D.C. on February 14, 2026, by Cardinal Christophe Pierre, apostolic nuncio to the United States.

The Diocese of Amarillo is comprised of 25,800 square miles in the State of Texas.
USCCB Release