Pope Francis has accepted the resignation of Cardinal Daniel N. DiNardo from his role as Metropolitan Archbishop and has appointed Bishop Joe Steve Vásquez, currently the Bishop of Austin, as the new Archbishop of Galveston-Houston.
Cardinal DiNardo, who has served the Archdiocese of Galveston-Houston since 2004 and held the title of cardinal since 2007, presented his resignation following his 75th birthday, in accordance with Church tradition. His leadership of one of the largest dioceses in the United States has been marked by his advocacy for immigrants, social justice, and the rebuilding efforts after Hurricane Harvey in 2017.
According to a statement released by the Vatican Press Office on January 20, the Holy Father, has in his stead, appointed Bishop Vásquez, a respected church leader with extensive pastoral experience across Texas, as the new metropolitan archbishop. Bishop Vásquez, who will be transitioning from the Diocese of Austin, is recognized for his deep theological training and strong community outreach initiatives.
Born on July 19, 1957, in Stamford, Texas, in the Diocese of San Angelo, Archbishop-elect Vásquez’s journey into church leadership has been a testament to dedication and service. He studied philosophy at Saint Mary’s Seminary in Houston before earning a licentiate in theology from the Pontifical Gregorian University in Rome. Ordained a priest in 1984, he has served in various pastoral roles throughout Texas, from parish vicar to priest of multiple churches, most recently in San Angelo.
Bishop Vásquez was appointed titular bishop of Cova and auxiliary bishop of Galveston-Houston in 2001, and he was ordained as a bishop in 2002. His leadership continued to grow, culminating in his appointment as bishop of Austin in 2010. In addition to his role in Austin, he has served as apostolic administrator of the Diocese of Tyler since November 2023, following the sudden vacancy of that diocese’s leadership.
The Archdiocese of Galveston-Houston, which covers a diverse and vibrant region with over 1.7 million Catholics, now faces the leadership of an archbishop deeply familiar with the pastoral needs of Texas communities.