The U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops now has a new president: Paul Coakley, the Archbishop of Oklahoma.
Coakley is 70 years old and, until now, had served as the Conference’s secretary. He succeeds Archbishop Timothy Broglio, who had led the U.S. bishops since 2022.
He has been known, among other things, for taking a stand against abortion and the death penalty, and for defending the rights of migrants.
In February, his diocese issued a statement noting that migrants have been a fundamental part of the prosperity of the United States.
The new president, who is also a member of the Dicastery for Divine Worship, has expressed his joy in taking on this new role on his social media.
I am honored by the trust my brother bishops have placed in me by electing me to serve as president of our episcopal conference. When I became a bishop, I chose as my episcopal motto ‘Duc in altum,’ which means ‘Put out into the deep’ or ‘Go into the deep waters.’
In the same vote at this Plenary Assembly in Baltimore, the bishops also elected a new vice president – Bishop Daniel Flores of Brownsville, Texas.
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