Bishop Mark Eckman was installed as the 13th Bishop of Pittsburgh at a Mass in Saint Paul Cathedral on July 14. More than 2,500 people attended to support him.
Numerous cardinals, archbishops, bishops, and clergy took part in the Mass. The Most Reverend Nelson J. Pérez, metropolitan Archbishop of Philadelphia, presided. Many ecumenical and interfaith guests attended as well.
Cardinal Christophe Pierre, the apostolic nuncio to the United States, who serves as the pope’s ambassador and official representative to the nation, read the papal bull (a Latin term for a decree) issued by Pope Leo XIV, officially declaring Bishop Eckman’s appointment.
Cardinal Pierre gave the papal bull to Bishop Eckman and asked him to show it to the College of Consultors, a small group of diocesan priests, for their inspection. It was at this moment that Bishop Eckman officially took charge of the diocese.
During his homily, Bishop Eckman turned to his episcopal motto, “To serve in faith and charity,” as a guiding light for himself and for all the faithful:
“It’s in the loving actions that we do for one another that we are able to build up God’s Kingdom,” he said.
Bishop Eckman, 66, was born in Pittsburgh on Feb. 9, 1959. He had been an auxiliary bishop of the diocese since 2022.
His priestly formation took place at St. Paul Seminary in East Carnegie, Duquesne University in Pittsburgh, and St. Vincent Seminary in Latrobe.
After his ordination on May 11, 1985, he mostly served in different roles in parishes and schools in South Hills, a southern suburb of Pittsburgh.
He was episcopal vicar for clergy personnel from 2013 to 2020 and in 2021 became pastor of Resurrection Parish after acting as administrator during its founding from the merger of two other parishes.
Bishop Eckman also served as a member on several boards, including the priest council, the U.S. bishops’ conference National Advisory Board, the permanent diaconate formation board, the seminary admissions board, and the priest candidates admissions board.
Watch the live stream of the installation Mass at this link.
From the Diocese of Pittsburgh
