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Pope Appoints James Golka as Denver's New Archbishop

3/27/2026

Summary

Story summary

Pope Leo XIV appointed Archbishop James Golka as the new Archbishop of Denver on March 25, 2026.
Golka, formerly head of the Diocese of Colorado Springs, leads the archdiocese's 600,000 Catholics.
He has a reputation for collaborative leadership and has supported initiatives for the LGBTQ+ community and immigrant services.
Outgoing Archbishop Samuel Aquila faced criticism for conservative policies, including the closure of Bishop Machebeuf High School and restrictions on LGBTQ+ students.

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Story summary

Pope Leo XIV appointed Archbishop James Golka as the new Archbishop of Denver on March 25, 2026.
Golka, formerly head of the Diocese of Colorado Springs, leads the archdiocese's 600,000 Catholics.
He has a reputation for collaborative leadership and has supported initiatives for the LGBTQ+ community and immigrant services.
Outgoing Archbishop Samuel Aquila faced criticism for conservative policies, including the closure of Bishop Machebeuf High School and restrictions on LGBTQ+ students.