Pope Leo XIV has appointed Most Reverend James F. Checchio, a priest of the Diocese of Camden and current bishop of Metuchen, as Coadjutor Archbishop of New Orleans.
The appointment was announced in Washington, D.C., on Sept. 24 by Cardinal Christophe Pierre, apostolic nuncio to the United States.
Archbishop Gregory M. Aymond is the current archbishop of New Orleans. The appointment as coadjutor archbishop grants Bishop Checchio the right of succession for the Archdiocese of New Orleans.
Of his new assignment, Bishop Checchio, 59, said, “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.”
Reflecting on his nine years of service in Metuchen, he noted, “My time in the Diocese of Metuchen has been a grace-filled and privileged time in my life and priestly ministry.” He assured the faithful there of his “ongoing daily prayers,” while promising the people of New Orleans that “I will dedicate myself to praying for and serving you.”
He added, “I am so grateful to Archbishop Aymond and (retired) Archbishop (Clifton) 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.”
Father Thomas Barcellona, pastor of Our Lady of the Angels Parish in Cape May Court House, has known Coadjutor Archbishop Checchio since the two were students at Saint Pius X Seminary in Scranton, Pennsylvania in the mid-1980s.
“He’s a holy priest, who’ll take his gifts as a listener, and as a people person, to New Orleans,” he said.
Coadjutor Archbishop Checchio’s alma mater, Paul VI High School in Haddonfield, celebrated the news. Michael Chambers, school president, said, “Our hearts are filled with joy; it’s a great moment.” He added that Archbishop-designate Checchio’s service shows how “leadership skills are developed here at Paul VI, and once that foundation is set, all of our graduates can stand on it proudly. We will keep Bishop in our prayers as he begins his new journey in the Archdiocese of New Orleans.”
Beyond his diocesan ministry, Coadjutor Archbishop Checchio has served the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops as Conference Treasurer and Chairman of the Committee on Budget and Finance, Vice Chairman of the Committee on Priorities and Plans, and member of the Executive Committee. He has also been involved in numerous committees and advisory groups, including work on the National Eucharistic Revival, the Ad Hoc Committee Against Racism, and the Pontifical North American College Janiculum Hill Foundation.
On Aug. 28, he was named to the Vatican Dicastery for the Clergy, which offers guidance and assistance to bishops in everything that has to do with the recruitment, training and continuing education of diocesan priests and permanent deacons, according to the Vatican.
Additionally, he is a trustee of the Papal Foundation, a member of the Board of Trustees for the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception in Washington, D.C., a regent and overseer for Seton Hall University’s Immaculate Conception Seminary, a director of the National Catholic Bioethics Center, and a member of the Catholic University of America Busch School of Business Board of Visitors.
Born April 21, 1966, in Camden, Coadjutor Archbishop Checchio earned a bachelor’s degree in philosophy from the University of Scranton in 1988. He completed seminary studies at the Pontifical North American College in Rome and was ordained a priest of the Diocese of Camden at the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception on June 20, 1992.
He holds a licentiate and doctorate in canon law from Rome’s Angelicum University. After ordination, he served in a number of pastoral and administrative roles, including assistant director of Public Relations and Communications, secretary to Bishop James McHugh, vice chancellor, director of Communications, and episcopal vicar for administration.
In 2003, he was appointed vice rector for administration at the Pontifical North American College, becoming rector in 2006. St. John Paul II named him a monsignor in 2000, and Pope Benedict XVI named him a prelate of honor in 2011.
The Archdiocese of New Orleans encompasses 4,208 square miles in Louisiana and has a population of 1,263,422, of whom 505,369 are Catholic.
OSV News contributed to this report.
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