What Happens Now?

Questions and Answers about Bishop Golka’s appointment as Archbishop of Denver and what it means for Colorado Springs

Following the announcement on Feb. 7 that Bishop Golka has been appointed Archbishop of Denver, many people are wondering what the future holds for the Diocese of Colorado Springs. Here are answers to some of the most commonly-asked questions:

Question: Is Bishop Golka still the Bishop of Colorado Springs?

Answer: No, following the Vatican’s announcement on Feb. 7, he immediately became the Archbishop-designate of Denver and the administrator of the Diocese of Colorado Springs.

Question: When will a new bishop be named for Colorado Springs?

Answer: Canon law does not stipulate a certain length of time within which a new bishop must be named. It could take the Vatican 6-8 months or longer to announce the appointment. In the meantime, Pope Leo XIV may name the bishop of another diocese or an auxiliary bishop as apostolic administrator of Colorado Springs. If no apostolic administrator is named before Archbishop-designate Golka’s installation on March 25, the College of Consultors, a body made up of six diocesan priests, must meet within eight days and elect a priest administrator. The priest who is elected would have canonical authority to govern the diocese but not the authority to carry out those functions reserved to bishops, such as priestly ordinations.

Question: Who will pick the next bishop of Colorado Springs?

Answer: Bishops are appointed by the pope with the assistance of the apostolic nuncio and the Dicastery for Bishops. In the United States, the current apostolic nuncio is Cardinal Christophe Pierre. The nuncio starts by reviewing a list of suitable candidates provided by the local bishops. From that group, he compiles a list of three names, called the “terna,” which is sent to the Dicastery for Bishops in Rome. The dicastery discusses the nuncio’s recommendations and selects one to become the next Bishop of Colorado Springs. The dicastery then presents their selection to the pope, who makes a final decision. For a more in-depth description of this process, visit: How Bishops Are Appointed

Question: What does this change mean for my parish?

Answer: Parishes in the diocese will continue to function as normal. While some special events may be affected, the faithful should not experience any disruption in the day-to-day activities of their parish.