Pope Leo appoints new bishop of Honolulu, accepts Bishop Silva’s resignation

Pope Leo XIV has accepted the resignation of 76-year-old Bishop Clarence Silva of Honolulu, Hawaii, and appointed Father Michael T. Castori, a Jesuit priest with decades of ministry in the Pacific Islands, the Holy See Press Office announced May 6.

The Diocese of Honolulu serves Catholics across the Hawaiian islands and has been led by Bishop Silva since 2005. Bishop Silva inherited 66 island parishes and shepherded more than 200,000 Catholics during his episcopacy, according to the diocesan website. 

Under canon law, upon turning 75 bishops must submit their resignation letter to the pope, who may choose to accept the letter or have them continue serving.

Fr. Castori has been a member of the Society of Jesus for nearly 40 years and has most recently served as rector for Seattle University, before being appointed the diocese’s sixth bishop.

He has also spent years serving throughout the South Pacific, including in Tonga, Guam, Fiji, and the Marshall Islands, in both pastoral ministry and education.

During a May 6 press conference, Fr. Castori said that Polynesian culture “profoundly deepened” his understanding of the faith, adding that it brings him “great joy and purpose” to now serve the diocese, according to the Hawaii Catholic Herald. Fr. Castori also said that since his first visit to the island nearly four decades ago, his soul has “never left the Pacific.”

Fr. Castori’s episcopal ordination and installation are scheduled for July 28 at the Co-Cathedral of St. Theresa in Honolulu.