U.S. Catholic Bishops Elect New Leadership Amid Divisions

Tue Nov 11 2025 16:21:30 GMT+0200 (Eastern European Standard Time)

The U.S. Catholic bishops convene in Baltimore to elect a new president and vice president, revealing divisions within the church as they consider candidates with varying approaches to pivotal issues.

The U.S. Catholic bishops will vote on new leadership on Tuesday, reflecting a spectrum of ideologies within the conference. This decision is seen as vital for their relationship with the Vatican and their approach to key issues like immigration and social justice. Contenders include prominent conservative figures and those advocating for a pastoral emphasis on marginalized communities.

The United States’ Catholic bishops will elect their next president and vice president on Tuesday in Baltimore. This vote is not merely procedural but serves as a barometer for the current priorities and ideological divides of the bishops as they consider candidates, some of whom are seen as culture warriors.

The U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops has often found itself at odds with the pastoral approach of Pope Francis. His successor, Pope Leo XIV, continues this emphasis on marginalized people, poverty, and environmental concerns.

Among the ten candidates on the ballot, half represent the conservative wing of the conference. While all U.S. Catholic bishops generally hold conservative views on social issues, their focus varies, with some prioritizing opposition to abortion and LGBTQ+ rights more prominently.

David Gibson, the director of Fordham University’s Center on Religion and Culture, noted, “The slate of 10 candidates reflects a division in the American hierarchy that is split down the middle.”

There is no clear front-runner; candidates were nominated by their fellow bishops, and the winner will succeed outgoing leader Archbishop Timothy Broglio after serving a three-year term. The current vice president, Archbishop William Lori of Baltimore, is approaching mandatory retirement age, making a leadership change imminent.

Among the conservatives, Oklahoma City Archbishop Paul Coakley is viewed as a strong contender, having served as secretary of the conference since 2022. Coakley is also an adviser to the Napa Institute, a group for conservative Catholic leaders.

Bishop Robert Barron, known for his popular Word on Fire ministry, is also a prominent candidate, alongside other conservative bishops. Some insiders hope for a leader who can unify the divided bishops and engage constructively with the Vatican, pointing to candidates like Archbishop Charles Thompson of Indianapolis and Bishop Daniel Flores of Brownsville, Texas.

Flores and another candidate, Archbishop Nelson Perez of Philadelphia, represent a growing Latino segment within the U.S. Catholic Church. Both have engaged notably in the Vatican's synod aimed at modernizing church practices.

The bishops’ discussions will also include immigration issues, a topic that has polarised many areas in the U.S., particularly during the Trump administration. Despite ideological divisions, there is shared conversation about supporting migrants, reflecting a commitment even from conservative leaders to advocate for vulnerable communities.

Pope Leo XIV has recently urged a reflective consideration of the treatment of migrants in detention, emphasizing the prolonged impact of current immigration policies on longstanding community members.

This election is critical not just for the future direction of the U.S. Catholic bishops but also in shaping their relationship with the broader church under a changing papacy.