A former priest from the Diocese of Wichita, Archbishop Paul S. Coakley of the Archdiocese of Oklahoma City, has been elected president of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB). His election took place during a recent meeting in Baltimore, where U.S. bishops also selected Bishop Daniel E. Flores of Brownsville, Texas, as vice president and Bishop Kevin Rhoades of Fort Wayne-South Bend, Indiana, as secretary.

Archbishop Coakley previously served in several roles within the Diocese of Wichita, including associate pastor at St. Mary Parish in Derby, pastor at Church of the Resurrection in Wichita, director of the Spiritual Life Center in Bel Aire, and Vice Chancellor of the diocese.

Diocese of Wichita Bishop Carl A. Kemme commented on the election: “I was delighted when Archbishop Paul Coakley was elected president of the USCCB at our meeting in Baltimore. Having been a priest of the Diocese of Wichita, we can certainly be proud of all Archbishop Coakley has done for the Church in the United States and will continue to do now as president of our Episcopal Conference for the next three years. Please join me in praying for Archbishop Coakley as he undertakes this important and challenging service.”

The election process included 10 nominees for president and vice president. Archbishop Coakley won the presidency with 128 votes to 109 over Bishop Flores after a runoff on the third ballot. Bishop Flores was then chosen as vice president on the first ballot among nine remaining candidates. Both will serve three-year terms following their installation after adjournment of the plenary assembly.

In a statement posted to Facebook, Archbishop Coakley said: “I am humbled by the trust which my brother bishops have placed in me by choosing me to serve as president of our episcopal conference.” He continued: “When I became a bishop, I chose as my episcopal motto ‘Duc in altum,’ or ‘Put out into the deep.’ Once again, the Lord is inviting me to put out into deep waters in calling me to accept this service and burden of leadership today. I accept it in faith and with great hope. I ask for the prayers of all the clergy, religious women and men and the faithful of the Archdiocese of Oklahoma City.”

According to its website, USCCB is an assembly where bishops jointly exercise pastoral functions for Catholics across both United States and U.S. Virgin Islands. The organization supports bishops’ ministry with an emphasis on evangelization through collective action.

Archbishop Coakley had served as conference secretary since 2022 before being elected president; he succeeded Archbishop Timothy Broglio who previously held that role before becoming USCCB president himself.

Born in Norfolk, Virginia in 1955, Paul S. Coakley moved with his family first to Louisiana and later Kansas where he completed his education before entering seminary studies for Wichita’s diocese in 1978. He was ordained a priest by Bishop Eugene Gerber on May 21, 1983.

His career included assignments such as chaplain at St. Francis Regional Medical Center (Wichita), associate pastor at St. Mary’s Church (Derby), chaplain at Kansas Newman College (Wichita), director for Youth and Young Adult Ministry (Diocese of Wichita), pastor at Our Lady of Guadalupe Church (Wichita), associate director at Spiritual Life Center (Bel Aire), part-time associate pastor at St. Thomas Aquinas Church (Wichita), pastor at Church of Resurrection (Wichita), director for spiritual formation at Mount St. Mary’s Seminary (Emmitsburg, Maryland), director at Spiritual Life Center (Bel Aire), Vice Chancellor for Diocese January-December 2004; administrator at Church Magdalen (Wichita).

After more than two decades serving Wichita’s diocese he was appointed Bishop Salina by Pope John Paul II on October 21st 2004 then named fourth Archbishop Oklahoma City by Pope Benedict XVI December 16th 2010.