John Bonnici

John Samuel Bonnici (born February 17, 1965) is an American Catholic prelate who serves as bishop of the Diocese of Rochester in New York State. He previously served as an auxiliary bishop for the Archdiocese of New York in New York City.

Biography

Early life John Bonnici was born on February 17, 1965, in New York City to John C. Bonnici and Gertrude (née Rilling) Bonnici.

Bonnici traveled to Rome in 1987 to attend the seminary of the Pontifical North American College and study at the Pontifical Gregorian University. He pursued his graduate studies at the Pontifical John Paul II Institute in Rome where he earned his Licentiate of Sacred Theology degree (1990-1992). At the Washington, D.C. campus of the same Pontifical John Paul II Institute, he earned his Doctor of Sacred Theology degree in 1995.

Priesthood Bonnici was ordained a priest at St. Patrick's Cathedral in Manhattan on June 22, 1991, by Cardinal John O'Connor for the Archdiocese of New York. After his ordination, Bonnici was assigned to the faculty of St Joseph's Seminary in Yonkers, New York.

New York Governor George Pataki appointed Bonnici to a seven-year term on the board of trustees of the City University of New York in April 2002.

In 2002, Bonnici became the pastor of St. Philip Neri Parish in the Bronx.

Auxiliary Bishop of New York

On January 25, 2022, Pope Francis appointed Bonnici as an auxiliary bishop of New York. Bonnici was consecrated as a bishop at St. Patrick's Cathedral by Cardinal Timothy M. Dolan on March 1, 2022, with Auxiliary Bishops John O'Hara and Gerald Walsh serving as co-consecrators.

In May 2022, Bonnici accompanied Dolan on a visit to Poland and Slovakia to call attention to the plight of Ukrainian refugees from the February 2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine.

Bishop of Rochester

On January 7, 2026, Pope Leo XIV accepted the retirement of Bishop Salvatore Ronald Matano and appointed Bonnici as the 10th bishop of Rochester. He was installed on March 19, 2026. Currently, the Rev. Aaron J. Kelly serves as his secretary.

Boards and Committees Bonnici is a member of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops' Committee on the Protection of Children and Young People and the Subcommittee on the Catechism. He also serves on the Pontifical North American College's Board of Governors since 2023.

Bonnici serves as a member of the board of Aid to the Church in Need (ACN United States), which provides pastoral and humanitarian assistance to the persecuted Church around the world. He also serves as a member of the board of The Christopher Missions Foundation which primarily assists the Diocese of Miao in establishing village churches, building parish schools, providing clean drinking water wells, ministry to at risk women, and economic sustainability projects.

Publications

Person to Person: Friendship and Love in the Life and Theology of Hans Urs Von Balthasar (1999) Partners in Life and Love: A Preparation Handbook for the Celebration of Catholic Marriage (co-authored with Monsignor Joseph Giandurco)