A New York bishop will become the latest bishop to lead the Roman Catholic Diocese of Rochester.
The United States Conference of Catholic Bishops and the Roman Catholic Diocese of Rochester both announced the news on Wednesday, Dec. 7
According to both organizations, Pope Leo XIV accepted the resignation of the Diocese current bishop – Salvatore Matano – and appointed John S. Bonnici to take his place. Matano has served as the bishop of Rochester since 2014. Matano, 79, is retiring after a career in the church that spanned more than five decades.
Here’s more on the diocese’s new leader.
Who is the Rev. John Bonnici?
Bonnici, 60, is a New York City native. In 2022, he was appointed as an auxiliary bishop of New York and titular bishop of Arindela by Pope Francis. Since 2022, he also served as episcopal vicar for Westchester and Rockland counties as an auxiliary bishop.
He was ordained at St. Patrick’s Cathedral in Manhattan in June 1991.
Bonnici has also been the pastor for Saints John & Paul church and St. Augustine church in Larchmont, Westchester County, since 2021, according to the Archdiocese of New York.
Prior to being ordained, he attended a Catholic preparatory school in Manhattan and earned his bachelor’s degree in biology and philosophy at St. John’s University in Brooklyn, according to the Archdiocese of New York.
He traveled to Rome to attend the seminary of the Pontifical North American College and to study at the Pontifical Gregorian University, from which he earned a bachelor of sacred theology in 1990. At the Pontifical John Paul II Institute for Studies on Marriage and Family in Rome, he earned the licentiate of sacred theology degree in 1992. He received his doctorate of sacred theology in 1995 from the institute’s campus in Washington, D.C.
He also served as an adjunct professor of moral theology at St. Joseph’s Seminary in Yonkers for roughly 20 years, according to the Rochester Diocese.
Bonnici spent his entire career working in New York – mostly in New York City, but also with years in the Hudson Valley (Orange and Westchester counties.) He also wrote several books.
When will Bishop Bonnici take over in Rochester?
According to the Roman Catholic Diocese of Rochester, Bonnici will be installed as the bishop of Rochester on March 19, 2026.
Editor’s note: This story was updated to provide new information regarding the new bishop’s educational journey.
This article originally appeared on Rochester Democrat and Chronicle: Who is Rochester’s new Catholic bishop? What to know about John Bonnici
Reporting by Victoria E. Freile, New York Connect Team / Rochester Democrat and Chronicle
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
