Pope Leo Names New Archbishop Who is a Pro-Life Champion

Pope Leo XIV has appointed Bishop James Golka of Colorado Springs as the sixth Archbishop of Denver, elevating a leader who has spoken out often against abortion.

Bishop Golka has joined fellow bishops in staunchly opposing taxpayer funding for abortions in the state and frequently spoken out on pro-life issues.

The Holy See announced the appointment on Friday. Golka, 59, will succeed Archbishop Samuel Aquila, who turned 75 on September 24 and submitted his resignation as required by canon law. Aquila has led the archdiocese since 2012 and has also been a staunch pro-life advocate.

Golka’s installation is set for March 25, 2026, during a solemn Mass.

The Archdiocese of Denver, Colorado’s largest diocese, serves more than 600,000 Catholics in 148 parishes and 31 schools. Golka was named bishop of Colorado Springs by Pope Francis on April 30, 2021, and ordained on June 29, 2021.

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His episcopal motto is “Stewards of God’s Mysteries.”

From a pro-life perspective, Golka’s appointment bolsters the Church’s voice in Colorado, where he co-signed an open letter with other bishops in April 2025 urging Gov. Jared Polis to veto SB25-183, a bill mandating at least $1.5 million annually from state general revenue for Medicaid-covered elective abortions that end the lives of little unborn babies.

In the letter, Golka and the bishops expressed “deep disappointment and grave concern regarding SB 183, which violates the dignity of human life and disregards the safety of women and the conscience rights of millions of Coloradans who do not want to pay for abortion.”

They criticized the bill for prioritizing public funding of abortion “at the expense of the lives of preborn children, the health of their mothers and the conscience rights of millions of Colorado taxpayers who morally object to abortion.”

The bishops declared: “Every human life, from conception to natural death, is a sacred gift from God. No act of law can change this truth, nor can it erase our moral obligation to defend the most vulnerable among us.”

They added: “We urge you, Governor Polis, to consider the millions of Coloradans who do not want their hard-earned tax dollars to be used in the destruction of human life. We call upon you to veto SB 183.”

The letter highlighted life-affirming alternatives like prenatal care, adoption services and support for women in unexpected pregnancies, which the dioceses provide.

Golka’s selection positions him to guide one of the nation’s key archdioceses in upholding the Church’s pro-life teachings in a state that was the first to legalize abortion.

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