Christopher R. Altieri, Crux
Thursday, August 14, 2025
By tradition, Romans head to the beaches to escape the heat of August. But Pope Leo XIV took his first papal vacation in July. And the pope has a lot of work that can’t wait, not least regarding the episcopate in the United States. There are nine sees with bishops turning 75 – the age at which bishops are required to submit their resignations – between now and the end of the year. Three of them, Samuel Aquila of Denver, Thomas Wenski of Miami, and John Wester of Santa Fe, lead metropolitan sees. Sixteen others are over the age limit, including Gregory Aymond of New Orleans, George Thomas of Las Vegas, and Roberto Gonzales of San Juan. And then there are cardinals Timothy Dolan of New York and Blase Cupich of Chicago (Pope Leo’s native city).
