Pope Leo XIV has made a fresh round of episcopal appointments in the United States, naming a new bishop for the Diocese of Laredo, a new bishop for Wheeling-Charleston, and two new auxiliary bishops for the Archdiocese of Washington. The Vatican announced the appointments on May 1, marking one of the most substantial batches of American episcopal changes since the start of Leo’s pontificate.
In Texas, Fr John Gomez has been appointed bishop-designate of Laredo following the retirement of Bishop James Tamayo, who has led the diocese since 2000. Gomez, who was born in Colombia in 1975 and ordained for the Diocese of Tyler in 2009, has served in a range of parish and diocesan roles, including as judicial vicar and as vicar general and moderator of the curia.
