NEW ORLEANS (WVUE) -At St. Patrick’s Catholic Church on Camp Street, bells could be heard before a midday Mass.
Mere hours earlier, Pope Leo formally accepted the resignation of New Orleans Archbishop Gregory Aymond.
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Aymond, 76, became archbishop of New Orleans in 2009. He committed to staying on the job until the archdiocese’s bankruptcy case was settled. That happened in December 2025.
“So therefore I think it’s appropriate that the church begin a new chapter with our new archbishop,” said Joe Lawton as he exited St. Patrick’s.
Across town on Rampart Street, other Catholics responded to Aymond’s retirement while talking in front of Our Lady of Guadalupe Catholic Church.
“I wish him luck,” said Kaaren Grimes.
Aldin Ardoin complimented Aymond on his tenure. Aymond was the 14th archbishop of the Archdiocese of New Orleans.
“I think he has served as very, very well. We were fortunate to have him,” said Ardoin.
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Grimes noted how Aymond remained archbishop beyond his 75th birthday.
“75 years is the year they’re supposed to retire,” she said. “So we had him beyond that and he was determined to see that this, you know, thing was wrapped up, you know, with the priests and all that kind of stuff.”
Dr. Tom Ryan is chaplain at Loyola University New Orleans and a professor of theology and ministry. He said it is not an anomaly for some bishops to work beyond age 75.
“I think it’s a regular thing that a bishop will stay beyond their 75th birthday, but they officially have to submit their resignation by their 75th birthday,” said Ryan.
In September, Pope Leo appointed Archbishop James Checchio to be coadjutor archbishop of New Orleans, and with the pope’s acceptance of Aymond’s resignation, Checchio is now the new archbishop.
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“You know, it’s not unusual for there to be a coadjuder bishop appointed who can help out in the transition, and then that coadjuder archbishop becomes the bishop or the archbishop upon the resignation of the current bishop,” said Ryan.
Even though Aymond’s retirement was imminent, some local Catholics say they will miss him as the archbishop of New Orleans.
“He has served his community very, very well. I’m sorry to see him leave but he has earned his retirement,” Ardoin said.
Checchio has been out and about in New Orleans. Recently, he even attended a carnival parade.
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“He’ll celebrate his first Mass on Ash Wednesday and occupy the chair, the Archbishop’s chair on Ash Wednesday. And there’s, I think there’s nice symbolism to that, that Ash Wednesday is a day of repentance. And a day of looking forward to how to do better in the future,” said Ryan.
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