Samuel J. Aquila
| His Excellency, The Most Reverend Samuel J. Aquila | |
|---|---|
| Metropolitan Archbishop Emeritus of Denver | |
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Aquila in 2014
| |
| Archdiocese | Denver |
| Appointed | May 29, 2012 |
| Installed | July 18, 2012 |
| Retired | February 7, 2026 |
| Predecessor | Charles Chaput |
| Successor | James Golka |
| Previous posts | Bishop of Fargo (2002–2012) Coadjutor Bishop of Fargo (2001–2002) |
| Orders | |
| Ordination | June 5, 1976 by James Vincent Casey |
| Consecration | August 24, 2001 by Harry Joseph Flynn, James Stephen Sullivan, and Charles J. Chaput |
| Personal details | |
| Born | September 24, 1950 Burbank, California, US |
| Motto | Quodcumque dixerit facite (Latin for 'Do whatever He says') — John 2:5 |
| Styles | |
| Reference style | His Excellency The Most Reverend |
| Spoken style | Your Excellency |
| Religious style | Archbishop |
| Ordination history | |
| History Episcopal consecration Consecrated by Harry Joseph Flynn Date August 24, 2001 | |
| Episcopal succession Bishops consecrated by Samuel J. Aquila as principal consecrator Stephen Jay Berg February 27, 2014 Jorge Rodríguez-Novelo November 4, 2016 Steven Biegler June 5, 2017 James R. Golka June 29, 2021 | |
Samuel Joseph Aquila (/əkwiːlə/; born September 24, 1950) is an American Catholic prelate who served as archbishop of Denver in Colorado from 2012 to 2026. He was bishop of Fargo from 2002 to 2012. He is on the board of directors for the Fellowship of Catholic University Students.
Biography
Early life
Aquila was born on September 24, 1950, in Burbank, California. He was ordained a priest of the Archdiocese of Denver at the Cathedral Basilica of the Immaculate Conception in Denver by Archbishop James Casey on June 5, 1976.[1][2]
In 1999, Archbishop Charles Chaput appointed Aquila as rector of the new St. John Vianney Seminary in Denver. He was also named chief executive officer of the Our Lady of the New Advent Theological Institute at the seminary. In 2000, Pope John Paul II named Aquila as an Honorary Prelate (Monsignor).[1]
Coadjutor bishop and bishop of Fargo
On May 29, 2001, John Paul appointed Aquila coadjutor bishop of Fargo. Aquila received his episcopal consecration at Saint Mary Cathedral in Fargo on August 24, 2001, from Archbishop Harry Flynn.[3] Aquila became bishop of Fargo upon the resignation of Bishop James Sullivan on March 18, 2002.[4]
On February 24, 2005, John Paul II named Aquila the administrator of the Diocese of Sioux Falls; that ended with the consecration of Paul J. Swain as bishop there in October 2006.[5][6]
Archbishop of Denver
On May 29, 2012, Pope Benedict XVI named Aquila Archbishop of Denver.[7] He was installed on July 18, 2012, at the Cathedral Basilica of the Immaculate Conception in Denver.[8]
In 2018, Aquila released a letter on the sexual abuse charges against then-Cardinal Theodore McCarrick. Aquila said that a culture of selfishness and deviated sexual morals, which he claimed had increased since the sexual revolution of the 1960s, has deceived clergy and lay people into such behavior. He urged the Church to return to its principles of human dignity and love founded in Christ.[9]
In September 2024, Aquila denounced Amendment 79, a proposed amendment to the Colorado State Constitution that would codify abortion rights for women in the state.[10] Amendment 79 passed in November 2024 with a 61% majority.[11]
Aquila submitted his resignation on his 75th birthday as required.[12] Pope Leo XIV accepted it on February 7, 2026, naming James Robert Golka as his successor.[13]
See also
- Catholic Church hierarchy
- Catholic Church in the United States
- Historical list of the Catholic bishops of the United States
- List of Catholic bishops of the United States
- Lists of patriarchs, archbishops, and bishops
References
- Back to citation occurrence 1.0 Back to citation occurrence 1.1 "Our Archbishop". Archdiocese of Denver. Retrieved December 31, 2024.
- Back to citation "Archbishop Samuel Joseph Aquila [Catholic-Hierarchy]". www.catholic-hierarchy.org. Retrieved August 27, 2025.
- Back to citation "Pope Appoints New Archbishop Of Denver". www.thedenverchannel.com. May 29, 2012. Archived from the original on June 20, 2018. Retrieved June 9, 2023.
- Back to citation "Archbishop Samuel Joseph Aquila [Catholic-Hierarchy]". www.catholic-hierarchy.org. Retrieved December 31, 2024.
- Back to citation "Office of the Bishop". Catholic Diocese of Fargo. Archived from the original on July 11, 2012.
- Back to citation Young, Gene. "Fargo bishop appointed apostolic administrator for Diocese of Sioux Falls". Catholic Diocese of Sioux Falls. Archived from the original on April 8, 2005. Retrieved February 4, 2008.
- Back to citation Medlin, Marianne (May 29, 2012). "Pope appoints Fargo bishop to lead Denver archdiocese". Retrieved May 29, 2012.
- Back to citation Draper, Electa (May 29, 2012). "Vatican names Samuel J. Aquila Catholic archbishop in Denver". Retrieved May 29, 2012.
- Back to citation "Denver archbishop reflects on McCarrick abuse crisis". Catholic News Agency. Retrieved December 31, 2024.
- Back to citation ""NO" ON 79: Archbishop urges opposition to dangerous pro-abortion amendment | Denver Catholic". September 27, 2024. Retrieved December 31, 2024.
- Back to citation Tassy, Elaine (November 5, 2024). "Colorado voters approve constitutional amendment on abortion access". Colorado Public Radio. Retrieved December 31, 2024.
- Back to citation "Denver Archbishop Samuel Aquila submits resignation". The Denver Post. September 19, 2025. Retrieved October 22, 2025.
- Back to citation "Pope Leo accepts resignation of Denver archbishop, names Colorado Springs bishop as successor". America. OSV News. February 7, 2026. Retrieved August 18, 2026.