Denver Archbishop Samuel Aquila to submit request for retirement next week as he turns 75

Elizabeth Hernandez, The Denver Post on Sep 19, 2025

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DENVER — Denver Archbishop Samuel Aquila, who has presided over the city’s Catholic archdiocese for the past 13 years, will submit his canonically mandated request to retire to Pope Leo XIV on Wednesday, his 75th birthday.

It is a requirement of the church that Catholic bishops and archbishops submit their resignation to the pope when they turn 75. But those resignations may be accepted quickly or take some time.

Aquila recently spoke to the Denver Catholic, the archdiocese’s official publication, about his retirement and his time serving as Denver’s archbishop. He recently marked 49 years of priesthood, with 38 of those years spent in Denver.

Aquila served as a parochial vicar in two parishes from 1976 to 1982 and then as pastor at Denver’s Guardian Angels Parish from 1982 to 1987. He was the first rector of St. John Vianney Theological Seminary, the eighth bishop of Denver and the city’s fifth archbishop, according to the Denver Catholic.

He told the publication that some of his favorite parts of serving as Denver’s archbishop over the years have been strengthening the city’s Catholic schools, establishing two new parishes in Thornton and near the airport, and leading a pro-life ministry.

“I’ve focused on helping people to have confidence in the promises of Jesus Christ and the fruit that encounter with Christ will bring about — especially, personally, the joy that it brings about, the peace that it brings about,” he told the Denver Catholic.

The archbishop’s leadership in Denver has faced criticism by Catholic parishioners who disagreed with his anti-LBGTQ policies and statements, or took issue with his more conservative values impacting local parishes.

Once Aquila’s resignation is accepted, he told the Denver Catholic, he wants to continue to minister, preach, celebrate Mass and hear confessions.

“Where (that happens) is a question that is up in the air,” he said. “Part of the difficulty is not knowing exactly when the acceptance of the retirement is going to come. I leave that all in the hands of the Lord.”

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