Trendpills
The United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) has elected Archbishop Paul S. Coakley of Oklahoma City as its new president. The election took place on November 11, 2025, during the bishops' fall general assembly in Baltimore. Archbishop Coakley will serve a three-year term, leading the influential body of American prelates during a new political era.
Coakley, 70, secured the presidency on the third ballot with 139 votes. Following his election, Bishop Daniel E. Flores of Brownsville, Texas, who was the runner-up for the presidency, was elected as the conference's vice president. Coakley succeeds Archbishop Timothy Broglio of the Archdiocese for the Military Services, USA. In his new role, Coakley will act as the primary spokesman for the U.S. bishops, guiding their public policy advocacy and internal church affairs.
Widely viewed as a prominent conservative voice within the American church, Archbishop Coakley's election is seen by many observers as a confirmation of the conference's rightward trajectory. He has been a vocal participant in the nation's culture wars, with strong stances on issues such as abortion, gender identity, and religious freedom. Before his election as president, Coakley led the USCCB’s Committee on Domestic Justice and Human Development, a role that involved him in a wide range of social and economic policy debates.
His leadership tenure begins just as Donald Trump's second presidential term gets underway, a context that underscores the election's significance. The selection of a conservative figure to helm the conference suggests the bishops are preparing to align more closely with a conservative political agenda, potentially increasing the distance between the American episcopate and the more pastoral, moderate approach of Pope Francis. The election results from the bishops' plenary assembly in Baltimore will likely shape the Catholic Church's public witness in the United States for the next three years, focusing on doctrinal priorities and engagement in high-profile social issues.
