Pope Francis has appointed Msgr. Frank Leo as Auxiliary Bishop of the Archdiocese of Montreal, the Holy See announced today, memorial of Our Lady of Mount Carmel. Following his episcopal ordination, the new bishop will join the auxiliary bishop currently assisting the Archbishop of Montreal, Most Rev. Alain Faubert, in serving the faithful of the Archdiocese.

The Archdiocesan community of Montreal congratulates Bishop-elect Leo and offers its prayerful support as he assumes this new leadership role.

“I am most appreciative to the Holy Father for the appointment of Msgr. Leo as the newest Auxiliary Bishop in our Archdiocese. He knows the Montreal community very well and will undoubtedly contribute even more to the spread and strengthening of the faith in our midst. Bishop-elect Frank has acquired a unique and vast experience in serving Holy Mother Church in an array of capacities and has demonstrated the heart of a shepherd throughout these ministries both locally, nationally and internationally. I am especially grateful for the commitment with which he has served as Vicar General and Moderator of the Curia for the last few months. We are blessed to have him serve in this new capacity among us. I welcome him with joy to the episcopacy and invite the priests of the Archdiocese as well as all the deacons, consecrated persons and lay faithful to pray for him as he embarks upon this new ministerial journey with us,” stated Most Rev. Christian Lépine.

"I learn with great heartfelt joy the appointment of Bishop Frank Leo as Auxiliary Bishop for the Catholic Church in Montreal. I give thanks to the Lord for this gift which, through the voice of our dear Pope Francis, he makes to his Church, in Montreal, in Quebec and in Canada. I rejoice to learn that this man of God and of ecclesial communion is called to follow the apostles to guide the people of God in their walk and in their Gospel mission. I have had the pleasure of exchanging more specifically with Msgr Leo for a few months; I assure him of my fraternal solidarity and wish him a very fruitful episcopal ministry. May Our Lady of Ville-Marie inspire him with confidence and audacity in following our Lord Jesus Christ," declared Mgr Alain Faubert.

Bishop-designate Leo commented on the appointment from the Holy Father:
“I am both humbled and grateful to Pope Francis for calling me to serve as Auxiliary Bishop in the Archdiocese of Montreal and thus immerse myself even more in the ministry and mission of our local Church. With gratitude also to Archbishop Lépine for his support, confidence and trust, I look forward to sharing my faith, all that I am and all that I have with the People of God all the while relying on the intercession of Mother Mary so as to minister with a compassionate and listening heart. In fidelity to Christ the Good Shepherd and Eternal High Priest and in loyalty to the Gospel and the Magisterium, I will endeavour to work diligently for the building up of Christ’s Kingdom in communion with all my brothers and sisters in the faith.”

Born in Montreal in 1971 to Italian immigrant parents, he entered the Grand Séminaire de Montréal in 1990 and was ordained a priest for service to the Archdiocese on 14 December 1996. Msgr. Leo served in different parish assignments in Montreal until 2006 when he accepted the invitation to enroll in the Pontifical Ecclesiastical Academy in Rome and subsequently enter the Diplomatic Service of the Holy See (2006-2012) serving in different Apostolic Nunciatures across the globe. In January 2012, Pope Benedict XVI appointed him Chaplain of His Holiness bestowing the title of Monsignor.

Upon his return to Canada, he joined the formation team of the Grand Séminaire de Montréal, teaching theology and philosophy while providing spiritual direction, training and accompaniment to the candidates for the priesthood. In the fall of 2015 he was appointed General Secretary of the Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops (CCCB), a mandate which came to an end in the fall of 2021.

In addition to his extensive graduate studies in Canon Law (Lateran University), Diplomacy and International Law, Msgr. Leo holds a Doctorate in Systematic Theology (University of Dayton⁄IMRI) with a specialization in Mariology, a Licentiate in Philosophy (Lateran University), a Diploma in Classical Studies (Université de Montréal) and a Graduate Certificate in Spiritual Direction (Aquinas Institute of Theology). He has taught, among other places, in Montreal, Canberra (Australia), Dayton (USA) and Ottawa. He speaks English, French, Italian and Spanish.

A date has not yet been determined for Bishop-elect Leo’s episcopal consecration. It is expected that he will begin his new ministry sometime this fall.