Pope Sends Local Bishop Northward
Thursday Pope Leo XIV announced in Rome that Bishop Brendan J. Cahill of the Diocese of Victoria has been appointed the new Bishop of Joliet in Illinois, effective Nov. 11.
The Diocese of Victoria covers all the Catholic Churches in a 10-county area including all of the Fayette County parishes south of the Colorado River.
The Diocese of Joliet comprises 4,218 square miles in the State of Illinois south of Chicago.
Bishop Cahill replaces Archbishop Ronald Hicks, who served as Bishop of Joliet for five years until Pope Leo appointed him Archbishop of New York on Dec. 18, 2025.
The Diocese of Joliet held a press conference to introduce Bishop Cahill last Thursday, Sept. 17. Cahill said he first learned of the new assignment when he got a call from Rome around 5 p.m. on Saturday, 12. Cahill spoke about the importance of clerical obedience to the Church.
“What struck me as interesting on that Saturday evening was how quickly I felt at peace with saying ‘yes,’” Cahill said.
Cahill got a little emotional when speaking about leaving the Victoria Diocese.
“I loved living in the rural area,” Cahill said. “I loved the harvest life masses, blessing of the seed, being with the people. It’s difficult letting go of a place you love.”
Cahill spoke about his efforts to bridge gaps between Catholic ministry and mental health counseling.
“One of the things I started in Victoria was a counseling center from the Catholic perspective,” he said. “One of the things we discover sometimes is that people have a coun- seling issue but they want to maintain their faithfulness in the Church. So we have Catholic counselors. We’ve done that in Victoria.”
Cahill said he hopes to continue similar efforts in the Diocese of Joliet.
Cahill has spent most of his life in Texas. He offered some thoughts on his transition to much different surroundings in Illinois.
“I like sports, so I have learned I’ll be a Bears fan, and it’s a good time to be a Bears fan,” he said.
Cahill also noted that he will have to learn to drive on ice. Pope Leo grew up in nearby Chicago, and one of his brothers lives in the Diocese of Joliet. Cahill joked that perhaps the Holy Father sent him to Joliet for that reason. Cahill said that he has stayed at the Augustinian House where Pope Leo used to live.
“I can’t help but feel a closeness to Pope Leo here,” Cahill said.
Cahill said that he has never met Pope Leo, but he plans to do so next year at a meeting with other bishops and the Holy Father to report on the state of their dioceses.
Pope Leo has not yet announced Bishop Cahill’s successor in the Victoria Diocese. The Diocese of Victoria issued a statement last week about Cahill’s departure.
“Along with our gratitude and appreciation for the gifts and leadership Bishop Cahill has provided our Diocese, our prayers accompany him as he continues his ministry as a Shepherd in Joliet. We place our trust in our Holy Father, Pope Leo XIV, as we await his choice for our next successor to the Apostles in Victoria.”