Pope Leo XIV appointed Most Rev. James F. Checchio, former leader of the Diocese of Metuchen in New Jersey, on Wednesday, Feb. 11, as archbishop of New Orleans following the resignation of former New Orleans Archbishop Gregory M. Aymond.
The Vatican accepted Aymond’s resignation after the conclusion of the archdiocese’s years-long bankruptcy case following hundreds of lawsuits alleging decades of sexual abuse by church affiliates.
A federal bankruptcy judge approved a $230 million settlement agreement in December 2025. As a part of the agreement, Aymond was required to meet with clergy abuse survivors from Feb. 6 to Feb. 10, one day before his resignation was accepted.
Harrison Harley, the head altar server for Tulane Catholic, said that Gregory Aymond was, “a down-to-earth guy, very friendly, willing to talk with anyone.”
“From what I’ve gathered, Aymond is a very holy man, and I hope that Checchio will continue to lead the archdiocese in a prayerful way,” Abigail Halberg, president of the Tulane Catholic Student Association, said “Additionally, I hope that Checchio ministers specifically to the young people of the Church.”
Harley also explained what he hopes from Checchio. “We’ve had to, unfortunately, close a lot of our churches and schools,” he said. “So I’m hoping that Archbishop Checchio is able to stir up a bit of a revival in the church of New Orleans.”
On Tuesday morning, Checchio blessed the Krewe of Rex’s parade, marking his first Mardi Gras season in New Orleans.