Pope Leo XIV Accepts Resignation of Bishop Salvatore Matano of the Diocese of Rochester; Appoints Bishop John Bonnici as Successor

| 01/7/2026

By: The Good Newsroom

Pope Leo XIV has accepted the resignation of Most Reverend Salvatore R. Matano, 79, from the pastoral governance of the Diocese of Rochester, and has appointed Most Reverend John S. Bonnici, currently auxiliary bishop of New York, as his successor

New York Auxiliary Bishop John S. Bonnici blesses the congregation during his episcopal ordination March 1, 2022, at St. Patrick's Cathedral in Manhattan. It was announced January 7, 2026, that Pope Leo XIV has accepted the resignation of Bishop Salvatore Matano of Rochester and named Bishop Bonnici as his successor.
New York Auxiliary Bishop John S. Bonnici blesses the congregation during his episcopal ordination March 1, 2022, at St. Patrick's Cathedral in Manhattan. It was announced January 7, 2026, that Pope Leo XIV has accepted the resignation of Bishop Salvatore Matano of Rochester and named Bishop Bonnici as his successor. (OSV News photo/Gregory A. Shemitz)

WASHINGTON – Pope Leo XIV has accepted the resignation of Most Reverend Salvatore R. Matano, 79, from the pastoral governance of the Diocese of Rochester, and has appointed Most Reverend John S. Bonnici, currently auxiliary bishop of New York, as his successor. 

The resignation and appointment were publicized in Washington, D.C. on January 7, 2026, by Cardinal Christophe Pierre, apostolic nuncio to the United States.

The Diocese of Rochester comprises 7,107 square miles in the State of New York.

05:30
Monsignor Kevin Sullivan, Rabbi Joseph Potasnik, Reverend A.R. Bernard, and Imam Mehmet Ozalp took time to speak with The Good Newsroom about the importance of holding interfaith dialogues, as the topic of religious freedom can only be upheld if all religions can be free.

By:

Patrick Grady

| 01/16/2026

Pope Leo XIV recalled La Repubblica's 50 years of recounting the history of Italy, the world, and the Church, a constant relationship with readers, freedom of inquiry, and dialogue as the privileged path for peace-building.

By:

Vatican News

| 01/16/2026

His eventual martyrdom in the face of his opposition’s bigoted fear of positive change is what we observe on Monday.

By:

Monsignor Joseph P. LaMorte

| 01/16/2026