The Archdiocese of New Orleans has a new archbishop.
James Checchio, the current bishop of the Diocese of Metuchen, New Jersey, will be introduced as the new archbishop Wednesday morning during a press briefing at Notre Dame seminary. Archbishop Gregory Aymond announced Pope Leo XIV's appoint in a letter posted to the archdiocese's website early Wednesday morning.
Aymond isn't going anywhere just yet. For the time being, Checchio will assist him as a coadjutor archbishop until the ongoing archdiocese bankruptcy case stemming from cases of sexual abuse committed by local priests is resolved.
"As Coadjutor Archbishop, he will assist me in the role of archbishop and has 'the right of succession' upon my retirement," Aymond wrote. "It it our intent to host a Mass of Welcome in the coming week, and I will continue in the role of Archbishop until the bankruptcy is concluded and other matters of pastoral care of the Archdiocese of New Orleans are accomplished."
Checchio, a native of Camden, New Jersey, has served as Bishop of Metuchen since 2016. Before that, he served as rector of the Pontifical North American College in Rome for 10 years.