Pittsburgh Diocese installs new bishop in ceremony

Mark Eckman of Bethel Park has been an auxiliary bishop since 2022.

By TOM DAVIDSON
TribLive

Bishop Mark Eckman was formally installed Monday afternoon as the 13th bishop of the Pittsburgh Catholic Diocese before an adoring crowd packed into St. Paul Cathedral.

Eckman, 66, of Bethel Park, was an auxiliary bishop for the diocese since 2022.

Pope Leo XIV named Eckman to replace retiring Bishop David A. Zubik in June. Zubik reached 75, the mandatory retirement age for bishops, in September 2024.

Eckman was formally seated on the cathedral, an episcopal chair used by a bishop that is housed in a cathedral, at about 3:10 p.m. after applause that started about 3 p.m.

More than 2,500 people were in attendance.

The Most Rev. Nelson Perez, archbishop of Philadelphia, is presiding at the Mass that began at 2:30 p.m. at the cathedral.

Cardinal Christophe Pierre, Leo’s representative to the U.S., read the papal mandate that Eckman accepted before dozens of bishops who were in attendance.

Clergy and faithful from other Christian denominations as well as Jewish and Islamic leaders were welcomed to the service.

Allegheny County Controller Corey O’Connor, who is the Democratic nominee to be the next mayor of Pittsburgh, also attended. His brother is the Rev. Terrence O’Connor, a Catholic priest in the Diocese of Pittsburgh.

The prayers of the faithful were offered in Spanish, Vietnamese, Portuguese, Korean, English and American Sign Language.

Eckman, whose episcopal motto is “To serve in faith and charity,” delivered a homily while standing in front of the altar, not far from the pulpit.

He said he views himself as less a regional manager and more as conductor of an orchestra.