Pope Francis has appointed Bishop Shawn McKnight of Jefferson City, Missouri, as the new archbishop of Kansas City in Kansas. This announcement came from the Vatican on April 8, 2025.
The appointment follows the acceptance of Archbishop Joseph Naumann’s resignation. Archbishop Naumann submitted his resignation upon turning 75 in June 2024, as required by canon law, after leading the Archdiocese of Kansas City, Kansas for 20 years.
Archbishop-Designate Shawn McKnight
Bishop McKnight, 56, is currently the bishop of Jefferson City, Missouri, a position he has held for seven years. His installation as archbishop in Kansas City, Kansas, is scheduled for May 27. This appointment represents a return to his home state, moving about 150 miles west.
Originally ordained a priest for the Diocese of Wichita, Kansas, in 1994, McKnight holds degrees in biochemistry and sacred theology, including a doctorate focused on the permanent diaconate. His past roles include teaching theology, serving as a university chaplain, working as dean of students at the Pontifical College Josephinum, and serving as executive director for a secretariat within the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB).
Retiring Archbishop Joseph Naumann
Archbishop Naumann is retiring after two decades leading the Archdiocese of Kansas City, Kansas, which serves over 180,000 Catholics. Pope Francis accepted his resignation on April 8, 2025.
Before becoming archbishop in Kansas City in 2005, Naumann served as coadjutor archbishop for a year and previously as an auxiliary bishop in St. Louis, where he was ordained in 1975. He also served as chairman of the USCCB’s pro-life committee from 2018-2021.
