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Denver archdiocese announces new archbishop James Golka

By February 7, 2026 | updated 8 hours ago

Photo of James Golka, 59, appointed to be the sixth archbishop of Denver on Feb. 7. (Courtesy of the Denver Archdiocese)

The Denver archdiocese announced the appointment of its next archbishop Saturday morning.

James Golka, 59, who received the appointment from Pope Leo XIV, will make a move up from Colorado Springs, where he has been serving as the third bishop of the city’s diocese since 2021, church officials said Saturday. He will replace Archbishop Samuel Aquila, who put in his retirement request to the pope in September on his 75th birthday, as required under canon law.

“As I prepare to depart, my heart is filed with wonder and gratitude to the father for the gift of the church in Denver,” Aquila said at Golka’s introductory news conference Saturday. The outgoing archbishop, Denver’s fifth, took over the post in 2012.

The fourth of 10 children, Golka was born in Nebraska and spent time at a diocese there before he was appointed in Colorado, according to a release from the Denver archdiocese. While in Colorado Springs, the Spanish-fluent bishop worked to increase the population of Hispanic Catholics in the diocese.

“I am extremely excited and extremely sad. Excited because I trust God more than I trust myself, and if God wants me to be here I will say yes, I cannot say not to that,” Goka said at the conference. “I only got the phone call on Monday, five days ago, so I am very sad to leave the good people in Colorado Springs.”

Samuel Aquila, archbishop of the Denver diocese of the Roman Catholic Church, Denver Gazette file.

During his speech, Golka discussed his desire to bring more people into the church to hear God’s message. He also said that he currently has no agenda, and he will take some time to intentionally listen to “God’s will” to figure one out.

Golka also mentioned that he was supposed to have lunch in Denver with his family Saturday and waited until just a few hours before the introduction to tell them that there would be a change of plans.

The archbishop-designate added that he thinks the the church should operate is in a manner of positivity and inclusion, especially at a time where hostility between those of different backgrounds is so prevalent.

“The best thing we can do is to be a happy and involved Catholic. Others are going to see that light and want it,” Golka said. “But if we’re complaining, divisive, judgmental — nobody’s going to want that.”

Golka will officially be installed during the Solemnity of the Annunciation Mass on Wednesday, March 25.

Denver is Colorado’s largest Archdiocese, overseeing more than 600,000 Catholics, 148 parishes and 31 Catholic schools.

Eric Talley’s funeral Mass took place on Monday, March 29, 2021. at the Cathedral Basilica in Denver.
Michael Braithwaite

Reporter

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