From Rome to your local diocese, leadership shapes the life of the Church. Catholic Hierarchy Update keeps you informed about appointments, episcopal news, and developments within the global hierarchy—helping you understand how the Church shepherds her people.
Pope Leo XIV has appointed Polish-born Vatican diplomat Mirosław Stanisław Wachowski as the new Apostolic Nuncio to Iraq, elevating him to the rank of archbishop. Archbishop Mirosław Wachowski, who had been serving as Undersecretary for Relations with States since 2019, was named Apostolic Nuncio to Iraq by Pope Leo XIV on Thursday, 18 September. At […]
Pope Leo XIV Names Archbishop Wachowski Nuncio to Iraq Read More »
ROME — The Catholic Church in Tanzania is mourning the death of Archbishop Novatus Rugambwa, a veteran diplomat of the Holy See and former Apostolic Nuncio. He died in Rome on the evening of September 16, 2025, at the age of 67, while undergoing treatment at Gemelli Hospital. Archbishop Rugambwa, a native of Bukoba
Archbishop Novatus Rugambwa, Former Vatican Diplomat, Dies at 67 Read More »
CATHOLIC HIERARCHY UPDATE: Appointed: Bishop Mark S. Rivituso, Archibishop (Archdiocese of Mobile, Alabama). July 1, 2025 The winds of change are stirring in the Archdiocese of Mobile, Alabama, as Pope Leo XIV has appointed Bishop Mark S. Rivituso as the new Archbishop. This significant move, announced on July 1, 2025, comes following the retirement
A New Shepherd for Mobile: Pope Leo XIV Appoints Archbishop Mark S. Rivituso Read More »
CATHOLIC HIERARCHY UPDATE: Retired: Bishop Lode Van Hecke, O.C.S.O, Diocese of Gent (Ghent, Gand), Belgium. June 30, 2025 On June 30, 2025, the Church in Belgium marked the end of a remarkable era as Bishop Lode Van Hecke, O.C.S.O., retired after five years of shepherding the Diocese of Ghent. A man of prayer, wisdom,
From Silence to Service: The Life and Legacy of Bishop Lode Van Hecke, O.C.S.O. Read More »
