Pope Leo XIV appoints Bishop James Golka to lead Archdiocese of Denver

Pope Leo XIV appoints Bishop James Golka to lead Archdiocese of Denver

COLORADO SPRINGS. This morning, the Vatican announced that Pope Leo XIV has appointed Bishop James Golka as the ninth bishop of Denver. Archbishop-designate Golka will be installed on Wednesday, March 25 at the Cathedral Basilica of the Immaculate Conception. He succeeds Archbishop Samuel Aquila, who turned 75 last September.

Bishop Golka will be introduced to the archdiocese at a press conference today at 10 a.m. at the John Paul II Center. The press conference will be livestreamed at: https://archden.org/live-events.

“While I am excited to discover God’s plan for me in the Archdiocese of Denver, I am also very sad to be leaving the Diocese of Colorado Springs,” Bishop Golka said. “I have grown to love the people and parishes of our diocese. Be assured of my continued prayers for you.”

Bishop Golka is a native of Grand Island, Nebraska, who attended Creighton University in Omaha and St. Paul Seminary in Minnesota. He was ordained a priest for the Diocese of Grand Island on June 3, 1994.

Pope Francis named him the third bishop of Colorado Springs on April 30, 2021, succeeding the late Bishop Michael Sheridan.

During his tenure in Colorado Springs, Bishop Golka recorded a popular series of weekly videos containing reflections on the Sunday readings. In 2025, he established the first diocesan shrine, the Shrine of Our Lady of Guadalupe, Mother of the Divine Redeemer. He currently serves as Episcopal Moderator of the Diocesan Fiscal Management Conference and on the Board of Directors of Cross Catholic Outreach.

Bishop Golka asked the faithful of the Diocese of Colorado Springs to pray for him as well as his successor, whoever it might be.

“Thank you for keeping me in your prayers. I also join you in praying for the next Bishop of Colorado Springs. We have no idea when that person could be named, but in the meanwhile, we can hold him in our prayers before we meet him,” Bishop Golka said.