Pope Leo XIV names Benedictine monk as bishop of Belleville Diocese in Illinois March 13, 2026By Courtney Mares OSV News Filed Under: Bishops, News, Vatican, World News VATICAN CITY (OSV News) — Pope Leo XIV has named Father Godfrey Mullen, a Benedictine monk, as the new bishop of Belleville, Ill. The Vatican announced the appointment of Bishop-designate Mullen March 13. The see of the Diocese of Belleville has been vacant since its former bishop, now-Archbishop Michael G. McGovern, was installed as archbishop of Omaha, Neb., in May 2025. Bishop-designate Mullen, 60, is a monk of St. Meinrad Archabbey in Indiana and current administrator of the Diocese of Belleville. A native of Illinois, he holds a doctorate in liturgical studies from The Catholic University of America in Washington. The Diocese of Belleville was established in 1887 and has a total population of 860,000 people, 70,000 of whom are Catholic. Read More Bishops U.S. bishops call on House to advance bill to investigate Indian boarding school legacy Pope Leo XIV calls bishops to Rome to discuss marriage and family in October Pope’s Robin Hood wraps almoner’s mission and returns to Polish hometown as archbishop Bishops’ annual CRS Collection ‘more vital than ever’ amid wars and disasters overseas Pope Leo bestows title of ‘monsignor’ on USCCB’s general secretary USCCB president: Prayer, diplomacy needed in Middle East to avert ‘tragedy of immense proportions’ Copyright © 2026 OSV News Print
