Pope Leo XIV has appointed Newark, N.J., Auxiliary Bishop Michael Saporito as the new bishop of the Diocese of Metuchen, N.J.
The Vatican announced his appointment Sept. 15, ending a nearly one-year wait for a new bishop of the diocese. The diocese was previously led by then-Bishop James Checchio from 2016 to 2025, after he served as rector of the Pontifical North American College in Rome. Bishop Checchio became the archbishop of New Orleans in 2026 after a brief period as its coadjutor archbishop.
The pope has also accepted the resignation of Bishop Francis Malone of Shreveport, La. Bishop Malone, 76, has led the diocese since 2019. Bishops are required to submit their resignations to the pope at the age of 75.
According to the Vatican announcement, Bishop Saporito was born in Newark May 3, 1962. He was ordained a priest for the Archdiocese of Newark May 30, 1992.
He also earned an accounting degree from Rutgers University and studied at Immaculate Conception Seminary School of Theology in South Orange, N.J., for several years before his ordination.
After his ordination, Saporito served as a parish priest at several parish churches throughout the archdiocese: St. Peter the Apostle in River Edge (1994-99); Our Lady of Visitation in Paramus (1999-2001); St. Elizabeth in Wyckoff (2001-04); St. Joseph in Maplewood (2004-11) and St. Helen in Westfield (2011-20).
In February 2020, Pope Francis appointed Bishop Saporito as an auxiliary bishop of Newark. He received his episcopal consecration June 30 of the same year from Cardinal Joseph Tobin who has served as archbishop of Newark since 2016.
