Pope Leo XIV has appointed Bishop Brendan J. Cahill of Victoria, Texas, as the new leader of the Joliet Diocese, the diocese announced Thursday. Cahill, who has served as bishop of Victoria since 2015, will become the seventh bishop of Joliet.

At a news conference held in Joliet, Cahill expressed enthusiasm about his new role and the local culture, playfully noting, “I have learned I’ll be a Bears fan,” referring to the city’s NFL team. He described the appointment as a surprise and said the past few days had been “a whirlwind.” Despite being new to the region, Cahill said he felt a connection to the diocese, having known his predecessor, Ronald Hicks, and several colleagues familiar with Joliet. He also made reference to the city’s cultural iconography, mentioning “The Blues Brothers” and “Joliet Jake.”

Hicks, who served as Joliet’s bishop before Cahill, was promoted to archbishop of New York in February, following a final Mass in January attended by around 1,000 people at the Cathedral of St. Raymond Nonnatus. Between Hicks’ departure and Cahill’s appointment, auxiliary bishop Dennis Spies served as the apostolic administrator. Spies joked that he was the bishop’s “stump double, until the real bishop gets here,” before welcoming Cahill’s arrival.

Cahill, 62, has spent almost all of his life in Texas. He was born in Coral Gables, Florida, in 1963 and moved to Houston in 1971, where much of his family still resides. He was ordained a priest for the Diocese of Galveston-Houston in 1990 after studying at St. Mary Seminary in Houston, earning degrees in psychology and divinity from the University of St. Thomas, as well as a master’s in theology with a focus on African-American Catholic studies from Xavier University in New Orleans. He has also studied and lived in Rome and is fluent in English, Spanish, and Italian.

Cahill said he looks forward to becoming familiar with the Joliet Diocese’s communities. He noted that Victoria is a rural diocese and expressed his interest in connecting with parishes beyond the administrative office. The Joliet Diocese serves approximately 520,000 Catholics across seven counties, covering an area of 4,218 square miles.

Adding a personal touch, Cahill mentioned that Pope Leo XIV has family ties to the Joliet area. The pope’s brother, John Prevost, lives in New Lenox, part of the diocese. Cahill joked that he would tell people the pope appointed him because of the family connection. He is scheduled to meet Pope Leo XIV next year.

Despite the considerable transition from Texas to Illinois, Cahill said he felt immediate peace and excitement upon accepting the appointment. His installation Mass is expected to be held in November.