Bishop Mark Eckman / Saint Vincent Seminary
Pope Leo XIV has accepted the resignation of Bishop David Zubik of the Diocese of Pittsburgh and appointed the diocese’s Auxiliary Bishop Mark Eckman as his successor, the Holy See Press Office announced June 4.
When Bishop Zubik, who has served as Pittsburgh’s bishop since 2007, turned 75 last year, he submitted the letter – required of all bishops when they turn 75 – offering his resignation to Pope Francis. In a press conference June 4, Bishop Zubik shared that in the letter, he told the pontiff that he was willing to remain in active ministry as long as the pope wanted. He made one request: his 50th anniversary to the ordination of the priesthood was coming up on May 3rd, and he asked to be able to celebrate it in active ministry.
“Obviously, I got what I asked for, and so I can be ever grateful, first of all to Pope Francis for receiving the letter, and Pope Leo for acting on it,” Bishop Zubik said.
Looking ahead, he said he plans to volunteer with the local Catholic Charities once a week, be available for spiritual direction, and help with confessions and the celebration of Mass at parishes. He also joked that he is happily now going to give over a pile of folders on his desk to Bishop Eckman.
Bishop Eckman, a native of the Pittsburgh suburb South Hills, has served as the auxiliary bishop of the same diocese since November 2021. Since his ordination to the priesthood in 1985, he has served as parochial vicar and pastor at numerous churches in the diocese, according to the Holy See Press Office.
Monsignor Većeslav Tumir, chargé d’ affaires, a.i., of the Apostolic Nunciature, publicized Bishop Eckman’s new appointment and Bishop Zubik’s resignation in Washington, D.C. June 4 amid the temporary absence of the apostolic nuncio to the United States, Cardinal Christophe Pierre, according to the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops.
At the press conference, Bishop Eckman reflected on how he hopes to serve well as the new bishop, noting that the diocese’s previous bishops each have “offered their own gifts and talents to be able to help to build our diocese into the wonderful place that it is, where God’s presence is known, and where Jesus’ love is experienced.”
He said he hopes that the Holy Spirit will continue working through him as the new bishop as he shepherds the diocese, which is a place “where all of us have the ability and the opportunity to know the Lord and to do His will each day of our lives,” Bishop Eckman said. “It’s a response to our Baptismal call that we all have received, to love God and to love our neighbor.”
He also said that despite being “a lifelong Pittsburgher,” he hopes to continue getting to know the parishes even better and plans to spend time with them and support the diocese’s priests in their ministry.
He asked for prayers from the faithful as he begins this ministry, saying that with God’s grace and supportive prayers, he will succeed.
“And let us pray that as we work together, we’ll build God’s kingdom here on earth,” he said, “until that time we can share the glory of God in His Kingdom of Heaven.”
