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October 23, 2025His Holiness Pope Leo XIV this morning appointed Bishop James F. Checchio, bishop of the Diocese of Metuchen, as the Coadjutor Archbishop of New Orleans. According to the Church's Canon Law, a "Coadjutor" bishop is appointed to assist the diocesan bishop until his retirement. This means that New Orleans Archbishop Gregory M. Aymond will continue to lead the Archdiocese of New Orleans, until such time that the Holy Father accepts his resignation. When that happens, he will then be automatically succeeded by Archbishop-designate Checchio.
Bishop Checchio said of his appointment: "The Archdiocese of New Orleans is an historic local Church with committed clergy and religious, two large seminary communities and a wonderful, faith-filled laity. I am certainly grateful to our Lord and to His vicar, Pope Leo XIV, for sending me to be a part of such a beautiful community. These past nine years as Bishop of Metuchen have been a grace-filled and privileged time in my life and priestly ministry. As I now prepare to leave Metuchen and the priests, deacons, religious and lay faithful whom I have grown more deeply in love each year, I promise them my ongoing daily prayers while assuring the good people of the Archdiocese of New Orleans that I will dedicate myself to praying for and serving you". Archbishop-designate Checchio continued, "I am so grateful to Archbishop Aymond and Archbishop Hughes for their most kind welcome and for their encouragement. I look forward to working with them in shepherding the Church in my new home. I ask all to please remember me in their prayers."
Bishop Checchio was ordained a priest for the Diocese of Camden in 1992 by Bishop James McHugh. In 1993, he completed a License in Canon Law (J.C.L.) in Rome and subsequently returned to the Camden Diocese, serving as parochial vicar at St. Agnes parish in Blackwood, NJ, from 1993-95. In 1995 he returned to Rome for graduate studies, earning a Doctorate in Canon Law (J.C.D.) in 1997. From 1997-2003, he served in various diocesan offices, including the Tribunal, Office of Communications, Vice-Chancellor, Secretary to Bishop Mc Hugh and then Bishop Nicholas DiMarzio, Episcopal Vicar for Administration, Moderator of the Curia, and Administrator of Holy Spirit Parish, Atlantic City, NJ. In 2003, he was named Vice-Rector for Administration of the Pontifical North American College, Rome. In 2006, he was named Rector of the P.N.A.C., a position he held until his term ended in 2016. On March 8, 2016, then-Msgr. Checchio was appointed by Pope Francis to serve as the fifth Bishop of Metuchen and was ordained and installed as bishop on May 3, 2016.
In his nine years as Bishop of Metuchen, Bishop Checchio made visiting the parishes of the diocese a top priority. He worked in collaboration with the major consultative bodies of the diocese: the Diocesan Pastoral Council, Finance Council, Presbyteral Council and College of Consultors. The protection and safety of children and young persons has always been a preeminent part of Bishop Checchio's episcopacy. He welcomed Pope Francis's Motu proprio "Vos Estis Lux Mundi'' holding Bishop's accountable. Prior to the Pope's Motu proprio, Bishop Checchio had already implemented within the Diocese of Metuchen an independent service "ReportBishopAbuse.org" for the anonymous reporting of any abuse by a bishop.
Over the last almost three decades, Bishop Checchio has also served on various committees and varied positions for the Church and sits on various boards including the National Catholic Bioethics Center, the Seton Hall University Board of Regents and Board of Trustees, the Executive Committee of the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception and Chair of the Development Committee, Board of Visitors for the Business School of the Catholic University of America, President of the Janiculum Hill Foundation, and member of the Papal Foundation Board of Trustees. He has also served as Catholic Chaplain to the Philadelphia Eagles of the NFL.
Since 2022, he has served as Treasurer of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops, also serving as Chairman of the Committee on Budget and Finance. In his years as a bishop, he has served on various other USCCB committees and in leadership positions, including the Committee on Priorities and Plans, Administrative Committee, Ad Hoc Committee Against Racism, and as Chairman of the Committee on Clergy, Consecrated Life & Vocations. On August 28, 2025, Pope Leo XIV named Bishop Checchio a Member of the Holy See's Dicastery for the Clergy.
Bishop Checchio was born in Camden on April 21, 1966, to Helen and (the late) James Checchio. He is one of four children. Bishop Checchio was raised in Collingswood, NJ, where he attended St. John School, and went on to Pope Paul VI High School in Haddon Township.
Bishop Checchio received a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Philosophy from the University of Scranton in 1988. He earned the Canon Law degrees mentioned above at Rome's University of St. Thomas Aquinas. In 2004, he graduated LaSalle University, Philadelphia, with a Master of Business Administration.
For more information on today's appointment, please visit the web pages of the Diocese of Metuchen and The Catholic Spirit. The Archdiocese of New Orleans will live stream the introductory news conference today at 1 O a.m. Central Time (11 a.m. Eastern Time). You may find links on their Facebook page ("Roman Catholic Archdiocese of New Orleans"), YouTube channel ("Archdiocese of New Orleans"), and the archdiocesan website (www.nolacatholic.org).
According to their website, The Archdiocese of New Orleans was founded in 1793, and originally known as the Diocese of Louisiana and the Floridas as a joint creation of the King of Spain and the Pope. Having roots in the Catholic realms of Spain and France, the Archdiocese has a distinctive history, unlike the dioceses established on the Eastern seaboard with English origins. After the Louisiana Purchase of 1803, New Orleans became an "American" diocese. It was elevated to an Archdiocese in 1850. Today, the Archdiocese consists of 4,208 square miles. The total population of the area is estimated to be 1.2 million people with an estimated total Catholic population of over 505,000. There are 104 parishes and 3 missions, served by 296 priests and 206 deacons, and 318 men and women religious. In the field of Catholic education, the archdiocese has 43 elementary schools, 22 high schools, 3 colleges and universities, and 3 seminaries (2 archdiocesan
and 1 religious).
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