New Archbishop Appointed for Omaha
Pope Francis appointed Bishop Michael McGovern of Belleville, Illinois, to lead the Archdiocese of Omaha, Nebraska. This decision came on Monday, March 31, 2025, following the Pope’s acceptance of the resignation of Omaha Archbishop George Lucas.
Bishop McGovern, 60, has served as the leader of the Diocese of Belleville since April 2020. A Chicago native, he is set to be installed as the new Archbishop of Omaha on May 7 at the Cathedral of St. Cecilia.
He succeeds Archbishop George Lucas, who had led the Omaha Archdiocese since 2009. Archbishop Lucas submitted his resignation in June 2024 upon reaching the age of 75, as mandated by canon law.
Ordained a priest in 1994, McGovern was named Bishop of Belleville in 2020. He is also the state chaplain for the Illinois Knights of Columbus since 2021 and a member of the Equestrian Order of the Holy Sepulchre of Jerusalem.
A notable action during his tenure in Belleville was the 2022 decision to sell the historic bishop’s residence. Bishop McGovern stated the proceeds would primarily fund a diocesan initiative for expectant mothers, alongside support for Catholic education and youth programs, expressing a desire to live more simply and redirect resources pastorally.
