In a week marked by sweeping changes for the Roman Catholic Church, Pope Leo XIV has announced a series of high-profile leadership appointments across England, Wales, and the United States, signaling a new era for millions of Catholics worldwide. These decisions, revealed on December 18 and 19, 2025, touch on every level of the Church’s hierarchy and reflect both the enduring challenges and the fresh hopes of Catholic communities on both sides of the Atlantic.
Perhaps most notably, Bishop Richard Moth has been named the new Archbishop of Westminster, placing him at the helm of the Catholic Church in England and Wales. According to BBC News, Moth will succeed Cardinal Vincent Nichols, who steps down after a 16-year tenure marked by profound change, controversy, and resilience. Nichols, now 80, was initially asked by Pope Francis to remain in his role beyond the standard retirement age, even participating in the conclave that elected Pope Leo XIV earlier this year. Moth, at 67, will officially be installed on February 14, 2026, becoming the 12th Archbishop of Westminster and president of the Bishops’ Conference of England and Wales, responsible for leading an estimated six million Catholics.
Bishop Moth’s journey to this pivotal role has been both international and deeply rooted in service. Born in Chingola, Zambia, in 1958 and raised in Kent, England, he began his priestly formation at St. John’s Seminary, Wonersh, and was ordained for the Archdiocese of Southwark in 1982. His career has spanned parish work, advanced studies in Canon Law at St. Paul University in Ottawa, and a variety of leadership roles, including Territorial Army Chaplain and Private Secretary to Archbishop Michael Bowen. He later served as Bishop of the Forces and, for the past decade, as Bishop of Arundel and Brighton.
"My first task here is to get to know everybody... to get to know priests and people, to get to know schools, to get to know the life of this wonderful diocese here in Westminster," Moth told reporters at a press conference, as cited by BBC News. He emphasized his longstanding commitment to social justice, saying, "My focus has consistently been in the area of social justice," and highlighted a "particular concern for prisons." Moth has recently called for empathy toward refugees, reminding the faithful that "Jesus's family fled to Egypt as refugees." He also voiced worries about rising social tensions and the misuse of Christian symbols by divisive groups, stating, "We are concerned about the tensions that are growing in society and the desire by some groups to sow seeds of division within our communities. This does not reflect the spirit or message of Christmas."
Moth inherits a Church still grappling with the fallout from historic child sexual abuse scandals. An inquiry in 2020 found more than 3,000 complaints against over 900 individuals in the Catholic Church in England and Wales between 1970 and 2015. Cardinal Nichols, his predecessor, was criticized for prioritizing the Church’s reputation over victims, though he publicly apologized: "That so many suffered is a terrible shame with which I must live and from which I must learn." As archbishop, Moth will now lead efforts to restore trust and ensure robust safeguarding measures.
Meanwhile, across the Atlantic, the Archdiocese of New York prepares for its own transition. On December 18, Pope Leo XIV accepted the resignation of Cardinal Timothy Dolan, who has served as Archbishop since 2009. Dolan, who reached the customary retirement age of 75 earlier this year, will remain as apostolic administrator until his successor, Bishop Ronald Hicks of Joliet, Illinois, is installed at St. Patrick’s Cathedral on February 6, 2026. The New York Times notes that Dolan’s tenure was characterized by both visibility and controversy—he was a prominent public figure, a conservative voice in both politics and liturgy, and a steady hand during the Archdiocese’s turbulent years of downsizing and sexual abuse settlements.
Hicks, 58, brings his own diverse experience to New York. Ordained in 1994 for the Archdiocese of Chicago, he spent five years as a missionary in El Salvador before becoming Bishop of Joliet in 2020. Dennis Poust, executive director of the New York State Catholic Conference, praised Hicks as "a man of deep faith, strong intellect, and a pastoral love for those in his spiritual care." Hicks steps into leadership as the Archdiocese moves forward with the sale of land beneath the Palace Hotel in Manhattan for $490 million, aiming to establish a $300 million fund to compensate survivors of sexual abuse—a stark reminder of the ongoing reckoning within the Church.
Cardinal Dolan, reflecting on his successor, said, "I am grateful to Pope Leo for appointing such a splendid priest and bishop to serve you, and have pledged to the archbishop-designate my fidelity and full cooperation, as he will now be my archbishop as well." Dolan’s legacy includes overseeing the renovation of St. Patrick’s Cathedral, consolidating parishes, and closing schools in response to declining attendance and the financial pressures of abuse settlements. He was elevated to cardinal in 2012 and participated in the conclaves that elected both Pope Francis and Pope Leo XIV.
The Vatican also announced two significant appointments in the United States on December 19, as reported by Catholic News Agency. Father Manuel de Jesus Rodriguez, a priest at Our Lady of Sorrows Church in Queens, will become Bishop of the Diocese of Palm Beach, Florida, following the retirement of Bishop Gerald Barbarito. Rodriguez, born in the Dominican Republic in 1974, brings a wealth of academic and pastoral experience, including a doctorate in legal studies and fluency in four languages. He became a U.S. citizen in 2018 and has served in various roles within the Diocese of Brooklyn. Outgoing Bishop Barbarito commended Rodriguez as "a deeply spiritual and exceptional priest," expressing confidence that the diocese will be "greatly blessed" by his ministry.
On the same day, Monsignor Peter Dai Bui was named auxiliary bishop of the Diocese of Phoenix. Bui, originally from Vietnam, has served as diocesan vicar for clergy and is known for his international outlook, having organized mission trips during his time as a chaplain in Venezuela. Bui admitted to being "honestly in shock" at his appointment, joking, "I even forgot [the Apostolic Nuncio] couldn’t see me nodding through the phone!" He expressed "profound gratitude to God" for the opportunity. Phoenix Bishop John Dolan welcomed the news, noting, "As one of the largest and most rapidly growing dioceses in the nation, Phoenix faces increasing pastoral and administrative complexity, and Bishop-elect Bui’s experience in governance, his deep care for priests, and his commitment to accompaniment will be invaluable."
As these new leaders prepare to take up their posts, they face a Catholic Church at a crossroads—one that must balance tradition with reform, address the wounds of the past, and chart a course for a future that is both inclusive and faithful to its core mission. Their backgrounds, statements, and the circumstances of their appointments reveal a Church determined to adapt, to listen, and to serve amid changing times and persistent challenges.
The coming months will test the resolve and vision of these appointees. For millions of Catholics in England, Wales, and the United States, their leadership marks not just a change in personnel, but a renewed invitation to hope, healing, and unity.
