Pope Leo XIV Appoints John S. Bonnici as Bishop of Rochester

Pope Leo XIV has accepted the resignation of Most Reverend Salvatore R. Matano, 79, from his role as the pastoral governor of the Diocese of Rochester. Concurrently, Most Reverend John S. Bonnici, who currently serves as an auxiliary bishop of New York, has been appointed as his successor.\n\nThe official announcement of both the resignation and the new appointment was made on January 7, 2026. Cardinal Christophe Pierre, the apostolic nuncio to the United States, publicized the information from Washington, D.C.\n\nThe Diocese of Rochester encompasses an area of 7,107 square miles within the State of New York.