The Holy See announced on September 15, 2026, that Pope Leo XIV has appointed Michael A. Saporito as the sixth bishop of the Diocese of Metuchen in New Jersey. The Vatican simultaneously accepted the resignation of Francis I. Malone, bishop of Shreveport, Louisiana.

Bishop Saporito, 64, currently serves as an auxiliary bishop for the Archdiocese of Newark under Cardinal Joseph W. Tobin. He succeeds James F. Checchio, who was installed as coadjutor archbishop of New Orleans in November 2025. The Diocese of Metuchen has lacked a resident ordinary since that transition began.

Background and Ministry

Born in Newark in 1962, Saporito studied accounting at Rutgers University–Newark before working in the field for three years. He entered seminary formation in 1987 and was ordained a priest in 1992 by then-Archbishop Theodore E. McCarrick.

Saporito has served as an auxiliary bishop since 2020. His responsibilities have included leading the “We Are His Witnesses” pastoral initiative, serving on the archdiocesan synod team, and sitting on the Evangelization Commission. He also contributed to Christlife, an evangelization apostolate based in Baltimore.

Diocese of Metuchen

The Diocese of Metuchen covers Hunterdon, Middlesex, Somerset, and Warren counties. It serves more than 670,000 Catholics within a total population of approximately 1.5 million people. The diocese is supported by 192 priests, 196 deacons, and 193 men and women religious.

Shreveport Transition

In Louisiana, Bishop Malone submitted his resignation last year upon reaching the canonical retirement age of 75. He is now 76. Robert W. Marshall, bishop of Alexandria, will serve as apostolic administrator for Shreveport until a successor is appointed and installed.