Archbishop Joseph F. Naumann / Facebook
CV NEWS FEED // For Archbishop Joseph Naumann, 2025 marks 50 years of being a priest and 20 years as the spiritual leader of the Kansas City archdiocese. Now 75 years old, he is set to retire from active ministry in May, leaving behind what he hopes is “a culture where people have encountered Jesus Christ in a way that’s transformed their hearts.”
Archbishop Naumann reflected on his time in active ministry in an April 14 interview published by The Tablet, an international Catholic publication. It was publicly announced last week that Pope Francis accepted his resignation, which is mandatory for all bishops to submit at 75. The Pope appointed Bishop W. Shawn McKnight of Jefferson City, Missouri, as Archbishop Naumann’s successor.
Within the past several months, Archbishop Naumann has led his flock in prayer and support amid several difficult circumstances.
In the first week of April, a priest in the archdiocese, Father Arul Carasala, was murdered, leaving the faithful in shock and mourning. Shortly after the tragedy, Archbishop Naumann celebrated Mass at the late Fr. Carasala’s parish, providing accompaniment and spiritual support to those grieving.
In March, when a group of satanists planned to host a satanic worship ritual at the Kansas State Capitol, the archbishop spearheaded legal proceedings to protect the Eucharist from desecration. Before the ritual, he was set to reconsecrate the state to Jesus through Mary, and urged Catholics to pray for the satanists’ conversion. On the day of the ritual, he led a holy hour and celebrated Mass just across the street from the Capitol. Thousands of Catholics protested and prayed during the ritual.
Speaking to The Tablet about the faithful’s response, the archbishop said that the terrible ordeal surrounding the ritual appeared to “[awaken] people to the importance of their faith. I think he provoked people to go deeper and stronger in their faith, so as sad as it was I think we see the Paschal Mystery everywhere and God was bringing good out of this.”
Archbishop Naumann has also been a staunch pro-life leader for years, working to build a culture of life nationally and locally, The Tablet reported.
Archbishop Naumann has served seven terms on the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops Committee on Pro-Life Activities, which he chaired from 2017 to 2021. In 2020, the committee launched the program Walking with Moms in Need, a parish volunteer-run program that connects mothers with resources, assistance, and accompaniment.
Speaking to The Tablet about ways to combat abortion, the archbishop encouraged the faithful to pray often and work to influence the political culture. He also said that adoption needs to be promoted, and praised the work of pro-life pregnancy centers.
“This is where the Church should really shine, and we should build up all of these ministries,” Archbishop Naumann said, “and I think that’s the way we change culture — live in a way that’s attractive and they see in us people that are willing to sacrifice for people they don’t even know for their good and for their welfare.”
His love of families has also shown through in small ways, such as his offer to baptize the third or more child of any family in the Archdiocese of Kansas City, according to the Tablet.
Archbishop Naumann said he is not often taken up on his offer, but he at least is hopeful that it encourages families to be open to life.
“This is the greatest vocation, the great miracle,” he said, “to be a parent and to be the first teacher of the faith.”
