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History
Ordination history of; Samuel J. Aquila
Consecrated by
History
Episcopal consecration
Consecrated by	Harry Joseph Flynn
Date	August 24, 2001
Stephen Jay Berg
Episcopal succession
Bishops consecrated by Samuel J. Aquila as principal consecrator
Stephen Jay Berg	February 27, 2014

Styles of
**Samuel Joseph Aquila**
Styles of; Samuel Joseph Aquila
Reference style	His Excellency; The Most Reverend;
Spoken style	Your Excellency
Religious style	Archbishop

His Excellency, The Most Reverend

Samuel Joseph Aquila
His Excellency, The Most Reverend; Samuel Joseph Aquila
Archbishop of Denver
	Aquila in 2014
Archdiocese	Denver
Appointed	May 29, 2012
Installed	July 18, 2012
Predecessor	Charles Chaput
Previous post(s)	Bishop of Fargo (2002–2012); Coadjutor Bishop of Fargo (2001–2002);
Orders
Ordination	June 5, 1976; by James Vincent Casey
Consecration	August 24, 2001; by Harry Joseph Flynn, James Stephen Sullivan, and Charles J. Chaput
Personal details
Born	September 24, 1950 (age 74); Burbank, California, US
Motto	Quodcumque dixerit facite; (Do whatever He says) ; — John 2:5

Samuel Joseph Aquila (/əkwiːlə/; born September 24, 1950) is an American Catholic prelate who has served as archbishop of the Archdiocese of Denver in Colorado since 2012. He was bishop of the Diocese of Fargo in North Dakota from 2002 to 2012. He is on the board of directors for the Fellowship of Catholic University Students (FOCUS).

Biography

Early life

Samuel Aquila was born on September 24, 1950, in Burbank, California. He was ordained a priest by Archbishop James Casey on June 5, 1976, for the Archdiocese of Denver. ^[1]

In 1999, Archbishop Charles Chaput appointed Aquila as rector of the new St. John Vianney Seminary in Denver. He was also named chief executive officer of the Our Lady of the New Advent Theological Institute at the seminary. In 2000, Pope John Paul II named Aquila as an honorary prelate (monsignor).^[1]

Coadjutor bishop and bishop of Fargo

On May 29, 2001, John Paul II appointed Aquila as coadjutor bishop of Fargo to assist Bishop James Sullivan. Aquila was consecrated on August 24, 2001, by Archbishop Harry Flynn.^[2] Aquila became bishop of Fargo on March 18, 2002, when Sullivan retired.^[3]

In 2005, the Vatican named Aquila to also serve as the interim administrator of the Diocese of Sioux Falls. His role in Sioux Falls ended with the consecration of Monsignor Paul J. Swain as the new bishop in October 2006.^[4]^[5]

Archbishop of Denver

On May 29, 2012, Pope Benedict XVI named Aquila as archbishop of Denver.^[6] He was installed on July 18, 2012, at the Cathedral Basilica of the Immaculate Conception in Denver.^[7]

Aquila in 2018 released a letter on the sexual abuse charges against then Cardinal Theodore McCarrick. Aquila blamed the so-called sexual revolution of the 1960s for leading clergy such as McCarrick to sexually abuse minors.^[8]

In September 2024, Aquila denounced Amendment 79, a proposed amendment to the Colorado State Constitution that would codify abortion rights for women in the state.^[9] He commented;

This proposition does three things contrary to the dignity of the human person: it creates a constitutional right to unrestricted abortion for all 40 weeks of pregnancy, eliminates parental notification laws and allows for taxpayer funding for abortions, which is currently prohibited.^[9]

Amendment 79 passed in November 2024 with a 61% majority.^[10]

References

^ ^a ^b "Our Archbishop". Archdiocese of Denver. Retrieved December 31, 2024.
^ "Pope Appoints New Archbishop Of Denver". www.thedenverchannel.com. May 29, 2012. Archived from the original on June 20, 2018. Retrieved June 9, 2023.
^ "Archbishop Samuel Joseph Aquila [Catholic-Hierarchy]". www.catholic-hierarchy.org. Retrieved December 31, 2024.
^ "Catholic Diocese of Fargo, ND - Office of the Bishop". www.fargodiocese.org. Archived from the original on July 11, 2012.
^ Catholic Diocese of Sioux Falls
^ Medlin, Marianne (May 29, 2012). "Pope appoints Fargo bishop to lead Denver archdiocese". Retrieved May 29, 2012.
^ Draper, Electa (May 29, 2012). "Vatican names Samuel J. Aquila Catholic archbishop in Denver". Retrieved May 29, 2012.
^ CNA. "Denver archbishop reflects on McCarrick abuse crisis". Catholic News Agency. Retrieved December 31, 2024.
^ ^a ^b ""NO" ON 79: Archbishop urges opposition to dangerous pro-abortion amendment | Denver Catholic". September 27, 2024. Retrieved December 31, 2024.
^ Tassy, Elaine (November 5, 2024). "Colorado voters approve constitutional amendment on abortion access". Colorado Public Radio. Retrieved December 31, 2024.

External links

Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Denver Official Site

Catholic Church titles
Preceded by Charles Chaput	Archbishop of Denver July 18, 2012 – present	Succeeded by incumbent
Preceded by James Stephen Sullivan	Bishop of Fargo March 18, 2002 – July 18, 2012	Succeeded by John Folda