Pope Leo XIV Names Daniel Garcia Bishop of Austin Diocese

Pope Leo XIV on Wednesday named Bishop Daniel E. Garcia as the sixth Bishop of the Diocese of Austin, filling a vacancy created when Bishop Joe S. Vásquez was elevated to Archbishop of Galveston-Houston in January. Garcia, 64, is a Texas native who served as Auxiliary Bishop in Austin from 2015 to 2019 before being appointed to lead the Diocese of Monterey, California. Ordained a priest for Austin in 1988, he has held numerous pastoral and diocesan leadership roles in Central Texas. The diocese said details of Garcia’s installation will be announced later. His appointment marks the first Austin episcopal selection by Pope Leo XIV, who was elected earlier this year.