Gerald Frederick Kicanas

Gerald Frederick Kicanas (born August 18, 1941) is an American Catholic prelate who served as bishop of Tucson in Arizona from 2002 to 2017 and as apostolic administrator of the diocese from 2025 to 2026. He was the apostolic administrator of the Diocese of Las Cruces in New Mexico from September 2018 to July 2019.

Biography

Early life Kicanas was born on August 18, 1941, in Chicago, Illinois, He attended Immaculate Heart Elementary School and Archbishop Quigley Preparatory Seminary in Chicago. Kicanas obtained his Licentiate in Sacred Theology from St. Mary of the Lake Seminary in Mundelein, Illinois. He then earned a Doctor of Educational Psychology degree and a Master of Education degree in guidance and counseling from Loyola University Chicago.

He worked as an associate pastor until 1978 and then held various offices at the archdiocesan seminary for over 25 years. He served as rector, principal, and dean of formation at Quigley Preparatory Seminary South in Chicago, and became rector of Mundelein Seminary at the University of St. Mary of the Lake in Mundelein, Illinois, in 1984. Kicanas chose to express his episcopal motto in both Spanish and English: "La Justicia Promueve La Paz" and "Justice begets peace", taken from Isaiah 32:17. He also vigorously contested press reports for failing to cite sources and provide context.

Bishop of Tucson Kicanas was named coadjutor bishop of Tucson on October 30, 2001, and became bishop upon the resignation of Bishop Manuel Moreno on March 7, 2003. The diocese had been beset by numerous claims of sexual abuse by priests and Kicanas was praised for managing the diocese's response, including using bankruptcy not to evade compensating victims but to establish a process for compensation. The bankruptcy judge praised him, diocesan fundraising improved, and one expert on the US hierarchy called his work "a national model".

On November 13, 2007, Kicanas was elected vice-president of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB), receiving 22 more votes than Archbishop Timothy Dolan. On February 28, 2008, the USCCB elected Kicanas a member of its delegation to the twelfth World Synod of Bishops in Vatican City in October 2008. In June 2009, Kicanas spoke at the annual meeting of the National Leadership Roundtable on Church Management at the Wharton School in Philadelphia. His talk addressed the need for effective communications in the Catholic Church.

On November 16, 2010, Dolan defeated Kicanas in the vote for USCCB president. It was the first time in USCCB history that a sitting vice president was not elected president. According to an article in the Jesuit magazine America, conservative Catholic groups had mounted a strong lobbying campaign against Kicanas.

Kicanas served as chair of the board of the Center for Applied Research in the Apostolate (CARA) in Washington, D.C., and was a member of the board of directors of the National Pastoral Life Center in New York City.

Retirement On October 3, 2017, Pope Francis accepted Kicanas' resignation as bishop of Tucson and named as his successor Bishop Edward J. Weisenburger. Kicanas was appointed chair of the board of directors at the National Catholic Educational Association on In January 2018, replacing Bishop George V. Murry. On September 28, 2018, Kicanas was named apostolic administrator of the Diocese of Las Cruces after Bishop Oscar Cantú was appointed bishop of the Diocese of San José. His assignment there ended on July 23, 2019.

In December 2021, Kicanas underwent successful open heart surgery at Banner University Medical Center in Tucson. On March 21, 2025, Kicanas was named apostolic administrator of Tucson after Weisenburger was appointed archbishop of Detroit.

Honors and awards Cardinal Joseph Bernardin Award from the Catholic Common Ground Initiative in 2008 Honorary Doctorate in Humanities from Lewis University in Romeoville, Illinois, in 2010 Honorary Doctor of Laws from the University of Notre Dame in Notre Dame, Indiana, in 2011 Bishop John England Award from the Catholic Media Association in 2018