Archbishop Checchio takes helm in New Orleans as pope accepts Archbishop Aymond’s resignation

Pope Leo XIV accepted the resignation of Archbishop Gregory Aymond on Wednesday, paving the way for coadjutor Archbishop James Checchio to assume the leadership of the Archdiocese of New Orleans.Leo appointed Checchio, 59, coadjutor archbishop of New Orleans in September 2025 to automatically succeed Aymond upon his retirement. After Checchio arrived in mid-November 2025, he has assisted Aymond at the archdiocese of over half a million Catholics in southeastern Louisiana for three months.Checchio previously served, since 2016, as bishop of…