Denver’s Catholic archdiocese, famously conservative, enters the Leo era

Pope Leo XIV’s Denver Choice Signals New Direction for Polarized U.S. Catholic Church

When Pope John Paul II’s helicopter descended into Denver’s Mile High Stadium in 1991, the roaring crowd created turbulence comparable to combat conditions in Vietnam, according to the pilot. The selection of Denver for World Youth Day was unexpected, as the city lacked deep Catholic roots and wasn’t known for its religiosity. Nevertheless, Archbishop J. Francis Stafford embraced the opportunity to bring evangelization to the region.

In the decades since, Denver has transformed into a hub for conservative Catholic ministries under Stafford and his successors, Archbishops Charles Chaput and Samuel Aquila. Organizations like the Fellowship of Catholic University Students and the Augustine Institute flourished, and Denver Catholic donors helped launch The Pillar, a Catholic news outlet known for its conservative investigations.

Now, as Pope Leo XIV seeks to lower tensions within a polarized church, his February appointment of Bishop James Golka to lead the Denver Archdiocese may signal a shift in approach. Golka, who has led the Colorado Springs diocese for five years, was installed on March 25 and appears poised to bridge divides among the archdiocese’s 600,000 Catholics across northern Colorado’s 25 counties.

“The one word I would use to describe him is joy,” said Chas Canfield, who shares Golka’s hometown of Grand Island, Nebraska and now manages a women’s emergency shelter in Denver. “You never see him not living with the joy of Christ.”

While outgoing Archbishop Aquila earned praise from conservative Catholics, his 12-year tenure generated controversy. Darren Walsh, head of Catholic Charities of Denver, credited Aquila with enabling the organization to open hundreds of temporary migrant shelter units during the pandemic. Emma Ramirez, director of Respect Life Denver, highlighted Aquila’s participation in anti-abortion initiatives, including Eucharistic processions around Planned Parenthood clinics.

George Weigel, papal biographer and friend to both Chaput and Aquila, described their work as building “a model archdiocese, not only in its evangelical energy but in its governance.”

However, Aquila’s policies alienated progressive Catholics, particularly his 2022 instruction prohibiting Catholic schools from enrolling LGBTQ+ students. He routinely assigned conservative pastors to historically progressive parishes, sparking backlash. At Most Precious Blood near the University of Denver, parishioners collected nearly 900 signatures protesting a priest who removed “feminist” art and criticized congregants in his homilies.

St. Ignatius Loyola, a historically Black Catholic parish led by Jesuits for nearly a century, experienced particular upheaval after Aquila replaced the Jesuits with the more traditional Community of St. John in 2023. Parishioners reported that the new pastor, Rev. Francis Therese Krautter, replaced gospel music with Gregorian chant and Western classical music, and discarded Black Catholic hymnals.

“There’s just two historically Black Catholic parishes in Denver, and it just seems pretty sad to me that we can’t have Gospel music at Loyola anymore,” said Rosa Salazar, a former choir leader at the parish.

But frustrations with Aquila crossed ideological lines. In 2023, the archdiocese closed Bishop Machebeuf High School, a majority-minority institution focused on classical education, despite its reportedly successful mission assessment. Harold Siegel, former principal, described the closure as “devastating to the apostolic mission” of the archdiocese, noting the school’s high rate of vocations and its success in providing underserved communities access to classical education.

Archbishop-elect Golka brings hope for a more unifying approach. His response to the 2022 mass shooting at Club Q, an LGBTQ+ nightclub in Colorado Springs, suggested greater sensitivity toward marginalized groups. Golka called the violence “especially troubling” and emphasized Catholic teaching on human dignity while urging prayers for the victims and their families.

Those who have worked with Golka praise his collaborative leadership style. Andy Barton, president of Catholic Charities of Central Colorado, noted Golka’s support for converting a property into transitional housing for homeless families. “He was a strong partner, providing his support and counsel along the way and making sure we were aligned with church teaching,” Barton said.

At a recent press conference, Golka expressed his commitment to celebrating Mass in Spanish and supporting immigrants, emphasizing both border security and the obligation to help those seeking refuge. “If someone shows up at my door in need, as a Catholic I care for them as best as I can,” he said.

Fr. Scott Hendrickson, president of Denver’s Regis University, believes immigration will be a priority for the new archbishop.

As Denver Catholics prepare for a new chapter, many hope Golka’s approach will heal divisions while maintaining the archdiocese’s evangelical energy. “I think it will be a seamless transition,” said Canfield. “He very much falls in love with the people that he’s around.”