US bishops elect new conference president

In a vote on November 11 at the USCCB plenary assembly in Baltimore, the bishops also chose Bishop Daniel Flores of Brownsville, Texas, as their vice-president. The two bishops finished top of the voting from a slate of 10 nominees.

Archbishop Coakley was elected president with 128-109 votes over Bishop Flores in a runoff on the third ballot. In the vote for vice-president, Bishop Flores was elected on the first ballot from the remaining nine candidates. Both bishops were to assume their respective new offices for a three-year term after the adjournment of the plenary assembly on November 13.

The bylaws of the USCCB provide that, if a candidate does not receive more than half of the votes cast on the first ballot, a second vote is taken. If a third round of voting is necessary, that ballot is a run-off between the two bishops who received the most votes on the second ballot. 

Up to the plenary, Archbishop Coakley served as USCCB secretary, a position he had held since 2022. He has a history of supporting migrants, promoting a culture of life and opposing gender ideology, Catholic News Agency reported.

The archbishop, who turned 70 in May, became a bishop in 2004. He has served in the Oklahoma City Archdiocese since 2011. He holds a licentiate in sacred theology.

Archbishop Coakley posted on X that he is “humbled by the trust which my brother bishops have placed in me by choosing me to serve as president of our episcopal conference”. He said he accepted the nomination “in faith and with great hope”, and asked for prayers. 

Bishop Flores, 64, is former president of the USCCB doctrine committee. He holds a doctorate in sacred theology and is a former theology professor. He has been a bishop since 2006. He was one of 12 bishops to serve on the Ordinary Council of the General Secretariat of the Synod on Synodality and is a promoter of synodality in the Church. 

Archbishop Coakley and Bishop Flores succeed Archbishop Timothy Broglio and Archbishop William Lori as USCCB president and vice-president respectively.

FULL STORY

U.S. Bishops Elect New Conference President and Vice President at Plenary Assembly (USCCB)

U.S. bishops elect Archbishop Paul S. Coakley as USCCB president (CNA)

Archbishop Coakley prays to be ‘wise servant of unity’ as USCCB leader (Vatican News)

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New USCCB president Coakley talks immigration, Vigano criticism, and lifting up saints (OSV News)