Pope Leo officially accepts resignation of Archbishop Gregory Aymond
I’LL HAVE MUCH MORE COMING UP IN THE NEXT FEW MINUTES. WE’RE GOING TO CHECK BACK IN WITH YOU ON THAT IN JUST A LITTLE BIT. ALL RIGHT. BREAKING NEWS. JUST AS THE WDSU NEWSROOM, THE ARCHDIOCESE ANNOUNCES THAT POPE LEO FORMALLY ACCEPTED THE RESIGNATION OF ARCHBISHOP GREGORY AYMOND. THE MOVE MEANS THAT JAMES CHECCHIO TAKES OVER AS THE 15TH ARCHBISHOP OF NEW ORLEANS TODAY. POPE LEO, APPOINTED COADJUTOR ARCHBISHOP BACK IN SEPTEMBER, AND HE WAS WELCOMED BY THE LOCAL CHURCH WITH A MASS IN NOVEMBER. CHECCHIO WILL CELEBRATE HIS FIRST MASS AS ARCHBISHOP AT SAINT LOUIS CATHEDRAL NEXT WEEK AT NOON. THAT’S ON ASH WEDNESDAY. THIS COMES AS ARCHBISHOP GREGORY AYMOND WRAPS UP A SERIES OF MEETINGS WITH CLERGY SEX ABUSE SURVIVORS AS PART OF THE $230 MILLION SETTLEMENT WITH SURVIVORS. THE FINAL MEETING HAPPENED LAST NIGHT AT THE MOST HOLY TRINITY CATHOLIC CHURCH IN COVINGTON. WE WILL OBVIOUSLY HAVE MORE ON THE TRANSITION OF LEADERSHIP AT TH
Pope Leo officially accepts resignation of Archbishop Gregory Aymond
Most Reverend James Checchio will take over as Archbishop of New Orleans on Ash Wednesday
Updated: 7:36 AM CST Feb 11, 2026
Editorial Standards
The Archdiocese of New Orleans announced Wednesday morning that Pope Leo Archbishop of New Orleans on Ash Wednesday with a mass at St. Louis Cathedral at noon.Checchio first arrived in New Orleans last September when he was named Archbishop Coadjutor. A mass to welcome him was held in November.
The Archdiocese of New Orleans announced Wednesday morning that Pope Leo XIV has officially accepted the resignation of Most Reverend Gregory Aymond as Archbishop of New Orleans.
Aymond, 76, announced last year that he intended to retire after the conclusion of the diocese’s years-long bankruptcy case, which has now concluded with a $230 million settlement.
The announcement comes one day after Aymond concluded his final meeting with clergy sex abuse survivors.
Most Reverend James Checchio will take over as Archbishop of New Orleans on Ash Wednesday with a mass at St. Louis Cathedral at noon.
Checchio first arrived in New Orleans last September when he was named Archbishop Coadjutor. A mass to welcome him was held in November.
