Today His Holiness Pope Leo XIV has accepted the retirement of Bishop Donal McKeown and appointed Bishop Michael Router, Auxiliary Bishop of Armagh, as the new Bishop of Derry. Welcoming this announcement Archbishop Eamon Martin, Archbishop of Armagh, has released the following statement:
Statement
I am delighted to share in the joy of my home Diocese of Derry as Pope Leo XIV names Bishop Michael Router as the new Bishop of the Diocese. I know that Bishop Michael will receive a warm welcome from the people, priests and religious of Derry.
Since his episcopal ordination seven years ago, he has been a tremendous support to me as Auxiliary Bishop of Armagh. We will miss him a lot.
Bishop Michael brings many gifts to his new role. His assistance to me in the governance and administration of the Archdiocese of Armagh, as well as his oversight of our Pastoral Team, youth ministry and adult faith formation, has helped him gain valuable leadership experience which he will no doubt develop further in the Diocese of Derry.
Bishop Michael is a team player who in recent years has led our Synodal process towards a highly successful Congress on Youth, Faith and Family back in March 2026.
Bishop Michael has a warm and welcoming personality. He is a gifted preacher and communicator who proclaims the Gospel with conviction. He has a natural pastoral instinct for the care of the clergy, support of religious.
In addition, he appreciates all those who serve and exercise ministry in the Church. He contributes generously to the work of the Episcopal Conference, serving as Chair of the Council for Healthcare, Vice-President of Accord CLG, and liaison bishop with the Irish Bishops’ Drugs Initiative. He is a member of the Irish Inter-Church Committee, a board member of Towards Healing and a member of AccordNi and CCMS.
I also take this opportunity to thank Bishop Donal McKeown and wish him many blessings in his retirement. A few months ago Bishop Donal celebrated his silver jubilee as bishop, having spent thirteen years as Auxiliary Bishop of Down and Connor and twelve years as Bishop of Derry. He retains his youthful hope and sense of mission, as well as his down-to-earth friendliness and authenticity. Bishop Donal continues to serve God and the Church with great generosity and a deep commitment to the Joy of the Gospel.
Bishop Donal’s many years in education kept him young at heart. He has always seen the potential for young people, inspired by faith, to make the world a more loving, forgiving and hope-filled place. He has shown tremendous dedication to Catholic education, rooted in Gospel values and centred on the development of the whole person: spiritually and mentally, as well as intellectually and physically.
At Episcopal Conference level, Bishop Donal has brought great wisdom to the conference table, especially in the fields of Education, Pastoral Renewal and Faith Development. His command of languages, including Italian, German and his native Irish tongue, has given him a breadth of insight into culture, identity and international thinking.
At a human level Bishop Donal is a person of genuine empathy, kindness and compassion – he is a true ‘son of encouragement’ and a caring pastor. I pray he will have health and happiness in his retirement and, after a good rest, embrace whatever new calling the Lord has in store for him.
On behalf of my brother bishops I express my gratitude and congratulations to both Bishop Michael and Bishop Donal. I offer them my prayerful support in the future.
May Saint Patrick, Saint Columba, Saint Eugene and all the saints of Ireland bless them both. Guím gach beannacht ó Dhia orthu agus ar a gcuid saothair.
ENDS
- Archbishop Eamon Martin is Archbishop of Armagh and President of the Irish Catholic Bishops’ Conference.