Daniel Nicholas DiNardo was born on 23 May 1949 in Steubenville, Ohio, and was ordained a priest on 16 July 1977. He holds a master's degree in philosophy from the Catholic University of America and licentiates in theology from the Pontifical Gregorian University and in patristics from the Augustinianum. After parish and diocesan work in Pittsburgh, he served as an official of the Congregation for Bishops in Rome from 1984 to December 1990 and directed Villa Stritch, the residence for American priests working at the Vatican, from 1986 to 1989.
Appointed coadjutor Bishop of Sioux City on 19 August 1997 and ordained a bishop on 7 October 1997, he became Bishop of Sioux City on 28 November 1998. John Paul II named him coadjutor Bishop of Galveston-Houston on 16 January 2004; when the diocese became a metropolitan archdiocese on 29 December 2004 he became coadjutor Archbishop, and he succeeded as Archbishop on 28 February 2006. Benedict XVI created him a cardinal in the consistory of 24 November 2007, with the titular church of Sant'Eusebio. He served as vice-president of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops from 2013 and as its president from 15 November 2016 to 12 November 2019.
Pope Francis accepted his resignation as Archbishop of Galveston-Houston on 20 January 2025. DiNardo participated as a cardinal elector in the conclave of March 2013, which elected Pope Francis, and in the conclave of 2025, which elected Pope Leo XIV.
Consequential Quotes
The accusations against Archbishop Theodore McCarrick reveal a grievous moral failure within the Church. They cause bishops anger, sadness, and shame; I know they do in me. They compel bishops to ask, as I do, what more could have been done to protect the people of God.
The privilege of a cleric is to be a humble servant to all. Justice demands that those who are shepherds should lead from in front, as courage requires, and from behind, as humility requires, going to those who are lost.
When too many within the Church sought to keep them in the darkness, they refused to be relegated to the shadows. Their witness brought help to countless fellow survivors. It fueled the resolve of my brother bishops to respond with pastoral support and prevention programs.
We must never stop striving for justice and working unceasingly to prevent any future abuse from happening. The measures we approved last June are a beginning of this renewed striving, but they are only a beginning – more needs to and will be done.
The continued fight to defend unborn children is one of the most significant things we do. And it will remain so as long as the most innocent lives are left unprotected.
Major Works & Initiatives
Official, Congregation for Bishops
Served on the staff of the Roman congregation responsible for bishops from 1984 to December 1990, and directed Villa Stritch in Rome from 1986 to 1989.
Archbishop of Galveston-Houston
Led the Texas archdiocese from 28 February 2006 until his resignation was accepted on 20 January 2025.
Vice-President, United States Conference of Catholic Bishops
Elected vice-president of the US bishops' conference in 2013, serving before his election as president.
President, United States Conference of Catholic Bishops
Served as conference president from 15 November 2016 to 12 November 2019, a term dominated by the Church's response to the 2018 abuse crisis.
Controversies
Handling of the La Rosa-Lopez case
The Rev. Manuel La Rosa-Lopez was accused in 2001 of inappropriately touching a 16-year-old girl while at Sacred Heart Parish in Conroe; after consideration by civil authorities and the archdiocesan review board, he was returned to ministry in 2004. Further allegations were made in 2018, he was arrested that September on charges of indecency with children, and on 28 November 2018 the Montgomery County district attorney executed a search warrant at the archdiocesan chancery for his records. Two accusers said DiNardo had disregarded their claims. The archdiocese said it had immediately reported the 2018 allegation to Child Protective Services, had removed La Rosa-Lopez from ministry, and was cooperating fully; the district attorney told reporters the archdiocese had cooperated, while adding he would have preferred voluntary access to the records. DiNardo also denied a television report's claim that he had knowingly left two priests in ministry despite credible accusations, saying neither case was credible.
Associated Press report on the Rossi case
In June 2019 the Associated Press reported that Laura Pontikes had told the Galveston-Houston archdiocese in April 2016 that Msgr. Frank Rossi, a former archdiocesan chancellor and vicar general, had manipulated her into a sexual relationship during spiritual counselling. Pontikes said DiNardo had initially called her the victim but later allowed Rossi to become a pastor in another diocese. The archdiocese told AP the relationship was consensual, that DiNardo had put Rossi on leave after the complaint and returned him to ministry without restrictions in a new diocese on the recommendation of an out-of-state renewal programme he had completed, and that it had informed his new bishop of the chastity violation. After AP alerted the Church to its story, Rossi was placed on temporary leave pending a Houston police investigation. The archdiocese disputed parts of Pontikes's account, including that the two had intercourse and that Rossi had heard her confession during or after the physical relationship.
Sources
- Holy See Press Office — biography
- Wikipedia
- Catholic News Agency — DiNardo's final USCCB presidential address, 11 November 2019
- Trenton Monitor — DiNardo statement on the McCarrick accusations
- Catholic News Agency — District attorney searches Houston archdiocese, 28 November 2018
- Associated Press via Latestly — Pontikes / Rossi report, June 2019