WASHINGTON — Pope Francis today named a new auxiliary bishop for the Archdiocese for the Military Services, USA (AMS). He is the Rev. Gregg M. Caggianelli, Ch, Col., USAF.
Bishop-elect Caggianelli serves as the vice-rector and dean of human formation, as well as assistant professor of homiletics at Saint Vincent de Paul Regional Seminary (SVDP) in Boynton Beach, Florida. Bishop-elect Caggianelli is a nearly 30-year veteran of the United States Air Force and a priest for over 22 years. Bishop-elect Caggianelli’s pontifical appointment brings to five the total number of auxiliary bishops serving under His Excellency, the Most Rev. Timothy P. Broglio, J.C.D., Archbishop for the Military Services, and current president of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB). His episcopal ordination will occur at a time and place to be set by Archbishop Broglio sometime in the next few weeks.
Bishop-elect Caggianelli earned a master of arts in theology from SVDP in 2001 and a master of divinity in 2002. He was ordained to the priesthood in 2002 and is a priest of the Diocese of Venice in Florida. Before coming to the seminary in 2013, he served as associate pastor, vocation director, and parish administrator in the Diocese of Venice. In 2020, he earned the doctor of ministry in homiletics from the Aquinas Institute in St. Louis, Missouri. Currently, Bishop-elect Caggianelli’s Air Force Reserve assignment is at the United States Air Force Academy in Colorado Springs, Colorado, where he serves as senior Reserve advisor to the USAFA chaplain and as senior team leader of the Academy’s Reserve chaplains and religious affairs airmen.
The Rev. Alfredo I. Hernández, rector/president of St. Vincent de Paul Regional Seminary, expressed his joy and pride in learning of the appointment of his friend and colleague:
“We at St. Vincent de Paul Regional Seminary are honored that the Holy Father, Pope Francis, has chosen our alumnus and dedicated priest for this important role, where he will assist Archbishop Broglio in the care of the men and women of the U.S. Armed Forces, the largest diocese in the world. For the time being, Bishop-elect Caggianelli remains on our faculty and in residence at the seminary, so it will be a great joy to be witnesses first-hand to this new stage of his ministry.”
Bishop Gregory Parkes, bishop of the Diocese of St. Petersburg and chairman of the board of trustees of SVDP, spoke on behalf of the board of trustees, which is meeting today at SVDP:
“Fr. Caggianelli has served the St. Vincent de Paul Seminary Community well during his time on faculty. We congratulate him on this appointment to now serve the spiritual needs of the brave men and women of the Military Services.”
Archbishop Thomas G. Wenski, metropolitan archbishop of the Archdiocese of Miami and chancellor of SVDP, remembers working with the bishop-elect while he served at SouthCom in Miami and commented, “He has been active as a reserve chaplain at SouthCom in Doral. He will be able to smoothly transition into his new position as auxiliary bishop of the Military Archdiocese.”
Reflecting on this appointment, Bishop-elect Caggianelli said, “I am most humbled and grateful to Pope Francis for this appointment as an auxiliary bishop for the Archdiocese for the Military Services. After the initial shock and disbelief, and much time begging for God’s mercy, I was filled with true praise and thanksgiving to God. Since I was a little boy, there have only been two things I have wanted to do in life. At age eleven, I started thinking of being a priest and at age fourteen I had a great desire to serve in the military. Since 1986, I have had the honor of wearing the uniform in one capacity or the other, and as a priest, serving as a chaplain in the Air Force Reserves has been a life-giving experience that has been filled with joy.”
In accepting the new role, Bishop-elect Caggianelli counts many blessings. He says, “I am deeply grateful for the unconditional love of my mom and dad. God has blessed me with dear friends who both support me and call me to task when I have failed, and I am grateful to the people of the Diocese of Venice and the men and women I work with at St. Vincent de Paul Regional Seminary.
“Throughout the Scriptures, for some reason, God chooses the most unlikely of people. Jesus called a motley lot of fishermen, tax collectors, and sinners as His disciples. He simply asked them to follow Him. God continues to call each of us to follow Him uniquely, and we trust in His promise to remain with us always.
“As I begin this new journey, I look forward to assisting Archbishop Broglio and the other bishops, chaplains, and good people who serve the Archdiocese for the Military Services. Most of all, I look forward to giving my life in service of our Lord in the care of our soldiers, sailors, airmen, coastguardsmen, guardians, veterans, and diplomats throughout the world.”