Archbishop James Checchio statement on today's appointments in Metuchen & Shreveport

 Roman Catholic Archdiocese of New Orleans - Statement from Archbishop Checchio

Upon the news that Pope Leo has appointed the Most Reverend Michael A. Saporito, currently Auxiliary Bishop of Newark, the new Bishop of Metuchen, and accepted the resignation of Bishop Francis Malone of the Diocese of Shreveport, Archbishop Checchio extends his prayerful congratulations and gratitude to God for His unending love of His Bride, the Church.

"God is so good in providing a wonderful bishop for the dedicated people, clergy and religious of Metuchen. Bishop Saparito is well prepared for this ministry through his many pastoral experiences in the Archdiocese of Newark and he loves New Jersey! May our Blessed Mother and St. Francis of Assisi come to his aid as he takes up the shepherding of the Church of Metuchen which I still pray for daily and love.

Today, we also congratulate Bishop Malone on his retirement and thank him for his episcopal ministry here in Louisiana. I join with the good people of the Shreveport Diocese in fervently praying to the Holy Spirit for a new good shepherd for that lovely portion of God’s vineyard. We also thank Bishop Marshall of Alexandria for temporarily taking on the role of apostolic administrator and assure him of our support and prayers."

Archbishop James F. Checchio

Archbishop of New Orleans

September 15, 2026

Bishop Resignation in Shreveport; Apostolic Administrator Appointed

 

Pope Leo XIV Accepts Resignation of Bishop Francis I. Malone of the Diocese of Shreveport;

Appoints Bishop Robert W. Marshall, Jr. as Apostolic Administrator

September 15, 2026

Pope Leo XIV has accepted the resignation of the Most Reverend Francis I. Malone, 76, from the pastoral governance of the Diocese of Shreveport. At the same time, he has appointed Most Reverend Robert W. Marshall of Alexandria as the Apostolic Administrator of the Diocese of Shreveport to serve until the appointment and installation of the new bishop.

 

The resignation and appointment were publicized in Washington, D.C., on September 15, 2026, by Archbishop Gabriele Caccia, apostolic nuncio to the United States.

All of the Louisiana Bishops strongly oppose Governor Landry's decision to use nitrogen hypoxia to carry out the death penalty

 

A Statement from the Louisiana Catholic Bishops on Pending Executions

February 18, 2025

by LCCB

The Louisiana Conference of Catholic Bishops have consistently defended life from conception to natural death and we remain deeply aware of the pain and grief that victims and families suffer, especially those who have lost a loved one through the crime of murder or crimes of violence.
As we continue to pray for the victims and their families, we pray that the State will not issue in a culture of death by facilitating death warrants and consider that mercy can be the highest form of justice. No method of execution is acceptable including nitrogen hypoxia (asphyxiation).

As a result of the recent efforts to restart the protocols for executions, the Louisiana Conference of Catholic Bishops issued the following statement:

“We are saddened by the recent notice to restart the process for the issuance of death warrants to execute human beings in Louisiana. This only contributes to the culture of death. We promote a culture of life, not death, in this great State we love. As bishops, we will continue to promote life from conception to natural death and work to end the execution of another human being”.

Sincerely in Christ,
Most Rev. Gregory M. Aymond, Archbishop of New Orleans
Most Rev. Michael G. Duca, Diocese of Baton Rouge
Most Rev. J. Douglas Deshotels, Diocese of Lafayette
Most Rev.  Francis I. Malone, Diocese of Shreveport
Most Rev. Robert W. Marshall, Diocese of Alexandria
Most Rev. Glen John Provost, Diocese of Lake Charles
Very Rev. Simon Peter Engurait, Diocesan Administrator Houma-Thibodaux

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More information and an Action Alert to write letters to the Governor is on our website at www.laccb.org under TAKE ACTION and Click On Oppose Death Warrants and Promote a Culture of Life to complete brief registration and to send letter that you can personalize. 
For further information, contact Tom Costanza at tcostanza@laccb.org or 504-874-7829.

A new Bishop for Shreveport

Monsignor Francis Malone - Photo - Diocese of Little Rock

US: Pope Names New Archbishop of Shreveport, Louisiana

November 19, 2019 16:56ZENIT StaffCatholic Church

Pope Francis has appointed the Reverend Monsignor Francis Malone as Bishop-elect of Shreveport.

Monsignor Malone is a priest of the Diocese of Little Rock and currently serves as Chancellor for Ecclesial Affairs and Pastor of Christ the King Church in Little Rock. The appointment was publicized today in Washington, D.C, by Archbishop Christophe Pierre, apostolic nuncio to the United States.

Bishop-elect Malone was born on September 1, 1950, in Philadelphia, PA. He was ordained a priest for the Diocese of Little Rock on May 21, 1977. He holds a Bachelor of Arts in History (1973), and Masters in Divinity (1977), and Education (1977) from the University of Dallas, TX, and a Licentiate of Canon Law (J.C.L.) from The Catholic University of America (1989).

Assignments after ordination include Associate Pastor, St. Michael Church, West Memphis & Sacred Heart of Jesus Church, Crawfordville (1977-1980); Associate Pastor, Our Lady of the Holy Souls, Little Rock & Pastor, Holy Cross Church, Sheridan (1980-1981).

Bishop-elect Malone has also served as Associate Pastor St. Patrick Church, North Little Rock (1981-1983); Associate Pastor, St. Vincent de Paul Church, Rogers & Priest in Charge, St. John Church, Huntsville (1983-1984); Associate Pastor, Immaculate Conception Church, North Little Rock (1984-1985). He also served as Pastor, St. Mary of the Mount Church, Horseshoe Bend & St. Michael Church, Cherokee Village (1985-1987); Rector, Cathedral of St. Andrew, Little Rock (1989-1996); Pastor, Immaculate Conception Church, North Little Rock & St. Anne Church, North Little Rock (1996-2001); and Pastor, Christ the King Church, Little Rock (2001-Present).

Other appointments include: Faculty, Mount St. Mary Academy, Little Rock (1980-1983), Clergy Personnel Board (1983), Chaplain, Rogers Memorial Hospital, Rogers (1983), Moderator of Cursillo (1989), Chancellor & Vice Officialis (1990-2002), Presbyteral Council (1991-Present), College of Consultors (1992-Present), Clergy Personnel Board (1993-Present), Clergy Welfare Board (1994-Present), Managing Editor of Arkansas Catholic Newspaper & Director of Communications (1995), Theological Consultant to Arkansas Catholic Newspaper (1997), Judge, Court of Second Instance, Province of Oklahoma City (2002), Vicar General (2002-2006), and Chancellor of Ecclesial Affairs (2008-Present).

Bishop-elect Malone has received the following ecclesial honors: Prelate of Honor with the title of Monsignor (1998), Knight Holy Sepulchre (2002) and Protonotary Apostolic (2010).

The Diocese of Shreveport is in the state of Louisiana and has a total population of 812,200, of which 41,335 are Catholic.