NEW ORLEANS (LA)
Times-Picayune [New Orleans LA]
September 24, 2025
By Stephanie Riegel
The Vatican announced on Wednesday that Bishop James F. Checchio, who has led the Diocese of Metuchen in New Jersey since 2016, will succeed New Orleans Archbishop Gregory Aymond.
Checchio, 59, is a native of New Jersey and a newcomer to New Orleans. He has been named Coadjutor Archbishop, meaning he will serve alongside Aymond until he retires in the coming months.
What is his background?
Checchio was born in 1966 in Camden, New Jersey, and grew up in a nearby suburb, Collingswood, in a family with four kids. He attended Pope Paul VI High School and graduated from the University of Scranton. He was ordained in 1992 in the Diocese of Camden and went on to earn a MBA from LaSalle University and a Doctorate of Canon Law and Bachelor of Sacred Theology from the University of St. Thomas Aquinas in Rome.
What is his professional experience?
He has extensive experience in church finances and administration. He served for several years in the the Diocese of Camden and in 2004, under Pope John Paul II, was appointed to the Vatican, where he went on to run the Pontifical North American College in Rome – the American seminary in Rome – from 2006-2016. During that decade, the College saw the highest enrollment of seminarians from the United States since the 1960’s.
What kind of reputation does he have within the Catholic Church?
Checchio has apparently earned the respect of his peers. He is currently serving as treasurer of the U.S. Catholic Conference of Bishops, the powerful organization of the 440 bishops in the United States, and chairs its budget and finance committee.
He also serves on its executive and membership committees, as well as the boards of several other Roman Catholic organizations.
Why was he named a Coadjutor Archbishop? What does that mean?
Checchio’s new title and position are not unusual. A coadjutor bishop is appointed to assist the diocesan bishop. Unlike an auxiliary bishop, he has the right of succession, meaning that he becomes the new bishop when the diocesan bishop retires or dies. In recent years, a growing number of U.S. bishops in larger dioceses or archdioceses have requested and received a coadjutor ahead of their retirement in order to pave the way for a smooth transition.
Aymond was named Coadjutor Bishop of the Diocese of Austin in June 2000, two months before taking over as bishop of the diocese. Archbishop Alfred Hughes was first appointed Coadjutor Archbishop of the Archdiocese of New Orleans in 2001. He succeeded Archbishop Schulte when he retired six months later.
Email Stephanie Riegel at stephanie.riegel@theadvocate.com.