Pope Leo names new archbishop of Denver
Feb 07, 2026
Bishop James Golka of Colorado Springs will replace retiring Archbishop of Denver Samuel Aquila starting in March, Pope Leo XIV announced Saturday.
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Golka, 59, wil
l be installed as Denver’s sixth archbishop in a Solemnity of the Annunciation Mass on March 25, church officials said in a news release.
Aquila submitted his retirement request to the pope on Sept. 25, his 75th birthday, after 13 years overseeing metro Denver’s more than 600,000 Catholics, 148 parishes and 31 Catholic schools.
Aquila is expected to introduce Golka, who was named bishop of the Diocese of Colorado Springs by Pope Francis in April 2021, at a news conference at 10 a.m. Saturday.
This is a developing story and will be updated.
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