Pope Leo has named Bishop Michael Router as the new Catholic Bishop of Derry.

Bishop Router moves from the Archdiocese of Armagh, where he has served as Auxiliary Bishop for the past seven years. He succeeds Bishop Donal McKeown, who submitted his resignation upon reaching the age of 75. Bishop McKeown had led the Derry diocese since his installation in April 2014.

Bishop McKeown will remain as Apostolic Administrator until Bishop Router is formally installed in September. A welcome service was held at St Eugene's Cathedral in Derry, attended by approximately 100 people.

Bishop Router, a native of County Cavan, has been a priest for almost four decades. He acknowledged the challenges facing the Church, noting that it no longer occupies the centre of public life and that many younger people do not identify with the institutional Church. He said the wounds caused by abuse and failures of leadership must be addressed through continued listening, humility, and work towards healing and reconciliation.

The bishop-elect also highlighted declining clergy numbers, changing parish structures, and the difficulty of transmitting faith in a secular culture. He stated that these realities cannot be solved by nostalgia and that managing change involves conversion rather than mere reorganisation.

Archbishop Eamon Martin, the Primate of All Ireland and a native of Derry, described Bishop Router as a gifted preacher and communicator with a natural pastoral instinct. He also praised Bishop McKeown as a person of empathy, kindness, and compassion.

Church of Ireland Bishop of Derry and Raphoe, Andrew Forster, welcomed Bishop Router and expressed his willingness to cooperate on the ongoing work of reconciliation. He paid tribute to Bishop McKeown’s friendship and counsel.

Foyle MP Colum Eastwood congratulated Bishop Router and thanked Bishop McKeown for his service, noting his contributions to education, reconciliation, and social justice. Bishop Router said he looked forward to building relationships across denominations and to engaging with the community, including through local sport.

Bishop McKeown, in his farewell, welcomed his successor as a man of great experience and wisdom, and spoke of the long-standing tradition of collaboration among the churches in Derry.