Bishop James Checchio named Coadjutor Archbishop of New Orleans

Pope Leo XIV has appointed Bishop James F. Checchio of the Diocese of Metuchen, New Jersey, to serve as Coadjutor Archbishop of New Orleans, Louisiana, positioning him to eventually succeed Archbishop Gregory M. Aymond.

The appointment was made public on Sept. 24 by the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB), following its official announcement by Cardinal Christophe Pierre, the apostolic nuncio to the U.S.

As coadjutor, Bishop Checchio will assist in overseeing the archdiocese and has the right of succession upon Archbishop Aymond’s retirement or resignation. Archbishop Aymond, a native of New Orleans, has led the archdiocese since 2009.

Bishop Checchio, originally from New Jersey, was ordained to the priesthood for the Diocese of Camden in 1992, where he later served in various leadership roles including vice chancellor, moderator of the curia, and episcopal vicar for administration. He also ministered in several parishes and participated in diocesan governance, earning papal honors under both Pope John Paul II and Pope Benedict XVI.

In 2006, he began a decade-long tenure as rector of the Pontifical North American College in Rome, a period during which the seminary reached its highest enrollment of U.S. seminarians since the 1960s.

His academic background includes degrees in philosophy, canon law, theology, and business administration, earned through studies in both the U.S. and Rome.

In addition to his pastoral responsibilities, Bishop Checchio has been active in national Church leadership. He currently serves as treasurer of the USCCB and holds several committee roles focused on finance, planning, vocations, and catechesis. He also sits on the boards of institutions such as the Papal Foundation, the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception, and the National Catholic Bioethics Center.