Archbishop Coakley asks for prayers as he steps into new role as USCCB president

Following his election Nov. 11 as the next president of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB), Archbishop Paul Coakley of Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, expressed hope regarding the new role and asked for prayers. 

“I’m humbled by the trust which my brother bishops have placed in me by choosing me to serve as president of our episcopal conference,” he said in a statement posted to X. 

He recalled how when he became a bishop in 2004, he chose “Duc in altum,” which means, “Put out into the Deep,” as his episcopal motto. 

“Once again, the Lord is inviting me to put out into deep waters in calling me to accept this service and burden of leadership today,” he continued. “I accept it in faith and with great hope.”

He requested the clergy, consecrated religious, and the faithful of his archdiocese to pray for him. 

“I have great confidence in the staff of both the USCCB and our own archdiocese. They will help me shoulder these responsibilities,” he concluded. “Please pray that I may be a faithful steward and a wise servant of unity and communion with our Holy Father, Pope Leo, and with my brother bishops and priests.”

The USCCB voted on the new president and vice president during the 2025 Plenary Assembly in Baltimore, Maryland, as CatholicVote reported.  

Bishop James Conley of the Diocese of Lincoln, Nebraska, issued a statement of congratulations shortly after the vote. 

“I’ve known Archbishop Coakley since we were young, and his deep faith and steady leadership will serve the Church well in the years ahead,” he said in a statement on X. 

He also congratulated Bishop Daniel Flores of Brownsville, Texas, who was elected the same day as vice president of the USCCB.  

“I’ll be praying for both of them,” Bishop Conley said, “as they begin this important work.”