THE MOST REVEREND DANIEL H. MUEGGENBORG
BISHOP OF RENO
Born and raised in rural western Oklahoma, Bishop Mueggenborg graduated from Oklahoma State University in 1984 with a geology degree and a related computer science degree. He attended the pre-theology program at St. Meinrad Seminary in Indiana and the theology program at the Pontifical North American College in Rome. He was ordained a priest for the Diocese of Tulsa in 1989.
Bishop Mueggenborg completed a Licentiate degree in Biblical Theology from the Pontifical Gregorian University in Rome in 1990. During his 30+ years as a priest, Bishop Mueggenborg has served as parochial vicar and pastor in several parishes and in a variety of ministerial roles, including high school chaplain and teacher, Newman Center chaplain, Director of Clergy and Education, and Vicar for Religious. He also served on the administrative staff of the Pontifical North American College and was adjunct professor at the Gregorian University. Pope Francis appointed him Auxiliary Bishop of Seattle on April 6, 2017, and he was ordained bishop on May 31, 2017.
Bishop Mueggenborg comes from a farming and ranching family and enjoys mountain biking and hiking in his free time. He has climbed Mt. Kilimanjaro and has hiked the Grand Canyon as well as a substantial portion of the Camino de Santiago. He credits his love for the outdoors to his rural upbringing and his involvement in the Boy Scouts of America.
INSTALLATION OF BISHOP MUEGGENBORG - A DIOCESE OF RENO SPECIAL EVENT
INTRODUCTION SPEECH FROM BISHOP MUEGGENBORG - NEW BISHOP OF THE DIOCESE OF RENO
View the article from April 23, 2025 that was published in the Reno Gazette Journal from the press conference.
Reno bishop speaks on Pope Francis and his legacy
Brett McGinness and Savannah Kuchar
USA TODAY NETWORK
Pope Francis, the 266th pope of the Roman Catholic Church, died Monday at the age of 88.
He had served as pope since 2013.
‘He was a living witness of what faithful, humble, selfless, sacrificial service looks like,’ Bishop Daniel Mueggenborg of the Diocese of Reno said in a statement Monday morning. ‘He will be remembered for his relentless efforts to bring justice, mercy and peace to the world. His heroic defense of the vulnerable dignified the voiceless and gave courage to the persecuted. The world has lost a truly great man.’
Francis spent much of his papacy advocating for the environment and economic justice; Mueggenborg said Francis’ successor would continue with those issues.
‘Migrants, refugees, the marginalized, the voiceless, persecuted peoples, as well as caring for the environment and a just economic system — those are all prevalent concerns in our world,’ Mueggenborg said. ‘He has to respond to the signs of the times now. He’s responding as part of his responsibility as the Chief Shepherd of the church to speak to these issues.’
How will the next pope be chosen?
The College of Cardinals, or the church’s most senior officials residing either at the Vatican or spread across the world, will gather in Rome to choose the next pope. The college is also acting head of the church in the interim.
Not all cardinals get to vote, though. Since 1975, only those younger than 80 are able to participate in the papal conclave.
As of Jan. 22, there were 252 cardinals, of whom 138 are electors, according to the Vatican.
Usually within 15 to 20 days after the papacy is vacated, cardinal electors meet in the Sistine Chapel and begin the strictly secretive voting process. Throughout the conclave, cardinals are under an oath of silence and forbidden contact with the outside world.
Cardinals will stay in the conclave until a new pope is selected.
This process takes as long as needed — in the 13th century, it took cardinals three years to elect Pope Gregory X. But in modern times, papal conclaves have skewed much shorter: The longest conclave in the 20th century lasted five days.
And in 2013, Pope Francis was elected in a little over 24 hours.
Who will be the next pope?
Oddsmakers have identified two favorites for the next pope; bettors think there’s an 80% chance one of them will be Francis’ successor. But it shouldn’t be surprising if a candidate with more remote chances ends up winning.
‘The Italians have an expression … ‘The person who goes into the conclave as pope comes out as a cardinal,’’ Mueggenborg told the RGJ. ‘Sometimes people do a lot of political speculation, and they’re just certain that someone will be elected — but that’s not the person who gets elected.’
According to betting website OddsChecker.com, as of Monday afternoon, the favorites are:
•Luis Antonio Tagle, Philippines, +150
•Pietro Parolin, Italy, +150
•Peter Erdo, Hungary, +1000
Would an American ever be named pope? It’s possible, Mueggenborg said.
‘I would not put anything off the table, and I’m really serious on that,’ he told the RGJ. ‘I think that we’ve seen a lot of things change in the makeup of the Cardinals themselves, and I think that is going to introduce a new perspective which we have not previously experienced.’
The narrowest betting odds for American candidates, according to OddsChecker.com, are:
•Raymond Leo Burke, +1600
•Timothy Dolan, +3300
•Wilton Daniel Gregory, +3300
Events in Northern Nevada to honor Pope Francis
Members of the public, regardless of their faith, are invited to a number of services for Pope Francis:
•A multifaith prayer service will be held at 4:30 p.m. Tuesday at the Unity Center of Reno, 2207 Kings Row.
•A rosary has been scheduled for 5:30 p.m. Wednesday at St. Thomas Aquinas Cathedral in downtown Reno.
•Bishop Mueggenborg will celebrate a Diocesan Mass for Pope Francis with the Bishop Manogue Catholic High School community at 10:30 am on Thursday, April 24 at St. Rose of Lima Church. The public is invited to attend this Mass as well. Overflow seating will be provided.
Bishop's Statements
Official statements from the Bishop are found here available for viewing and download.
Statement of the Diocese of Reno
On the Election of Cardinal Robert Prevost
As Pope Leo XIV
“White Smoke of Joy and Thanksgiving”
RENO (MAY 8, 2025) – On May 8, 2025, the College of Cardinals elected Cardinal
Robert Prevost, who has taken the name Pope Leo XIV, as the next Pope of the
Catholic Church.
Bishop Daniel H. Mueggenborg gives thanks to Almighty God and invites all
Catholics with people of good will to rejoice in this moment and pray for our new
Pope.
Statement from Bishop Mueggenborg:
“These have been tumultuous weeks in which we only recently laid to rest
Pope Francis, whose tomb | visited just last week in Rome. Now that sadness
has been turned into joy as we welcome the 267″ Successor of Saint Peter,
Vicar of Christ, and The Servant of the Servants of God, Pope Leo XIV. | look
forward to working with our new Holy Father in a loving spirit of fraternal
collaboration and pledge him my obedience and readiness to assist him in any
way | can. | will be in Rome this October and will personally extend to him the
greetings of the Church in northern Nevada while assuring him of our constant
prayers and unwavering support for his office and ministry.”
Bishop Mueggenborg will celebrate a Mass of Thanksgiving at 12:10 pm on Friday,
May 9, 2025 at St. Thomas Aquinas Cathedral in downtown Reno. All are invited to
join in this celebration as we pray for the new Pope.
For updates from the Diocese of Reno, please visit HighDesertCatholic.org in the
coming days.
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Statement of Most Reverend Daniel H. Mueggenborg on the Death of Pope Francis
RENO (April 21, 2025) – The death of Pope Francis is a loss not only for the Catholic Church, but for the entire world. He was a prophetic voice of compassion, mercy, forgiveness, love and peace for people of all faiths and his message will live on as a valued legacy for all humanity. His personal
witness of simplicity and evangelical proclamation of the faith are an enduring witness for all who
follow Jesus.
Pope Francis’ personal background prepared him to be a leader according to the heart of Christ the
Good Shepherd. He knew the value of hard work, he studied the empirical sciences, he served the
poor, he fought corruption, he stood up for what is right and just, and he spoke courageously when
others remained silent. He was truly a man for our times and a force for good in both the Church
and the world.
Bishop Daniel H. Mueggenborg of the Diocese of Reno expressed his deep personal sadness at
hearing of the death of Pope Francis. He recalled the various experiences he had meeting the Pope
and brief visits with him. The occasion he remembered most was when he gave Pope Francis an
original copy of a Jesuit breviary (prayer book) printed in the very early 1600’s. The Pope was
delighted to receive this spiritual artifact of his own Jesuit religious order. Bishop Mueggenborg
stated his personal gratitude to Pope Francis for naming him to the episcopacy (Order of Bishops) in
2017 and for appointing him as Bishop of Reno in 2021.
Most of all, Bishop Mueggenborg communicated his admiration for Pope Francis and his personal
witness of faith:
“Pope Francis chose the image of Christ the Good Shepherd for his pectoral cross. That image
appropriately captures how he understood and carried out his role as the Chief Shepherd of the
Church, caring for Christ’s flock. He was a living witness of what faithful, humble, selfless, sacrificial
service looks like. He will be remembered for his relentless efforts to bring justice, mercy and peace
to the world. His heroic defense of the vulnerable dignified the voiceless and gave courage to the
persecuted. The world has lost a truly great man.”
Bishop Mueggenborg asks all Catholics and people of good will to pray for the peaceful repose of
Pope Francis’ soul. Catholics pray for the deceased as an expression of our faith in God’s mercy and
the Easter mystery of the Risen Christ. He also asks that we pray for the Church and for the world –
that the legacy of Pope Francis may continue to guide our hearts and minds to pursue the ways of
peace, life, charity, and compassion.
More specific details of local events, including a Memorial Mass in memory of Pope Francis, will be
announced as they are confirmed.
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Declaración de la Diócesis De Reno sobre la muerte del Papa Francisco
RENO (21 de abril de 2025) – El fallecimiento del Papa Francisco es una pérdida no sólo para la
Iglesia Católica, sino para el mundo entero. Fue una voz profética de compasión, misericordia,
perdón, amor y paz para personas de todas las religiones, y su mensaje perdurará como un valioso
legado para toda la humanidad. Su testimonio personal de sencillez y proclamación evangélica de la
fe son un testimonio perdurable para todos los que siguen a Jesús.
La trayectoria personal del Papa Francisco lo preparó para ser un líder según el corazón de Cristo, el
Buen Pastor. Conoció el valor del trabajo duro, estudió las ciencias empíricas, sirvió a los pobres,
luchó contra la corrupción, defendió lo justo y lo correcto, y habló con valentía cuando otros
guardaban silencio. Fue un hombre verdaderamente para nuestro tiempo y una fuerza para el bien
tanto en la Iglesia como en el mundo.
El obispo Daniel H. Mueggenborg, de la Diócesis de Reno, expresó su profunda tristeza al enterarse
del fallecimiento del Papa Francisco. Recordó las diversas experiencias que tuvo al conocer al Papa
en su visita breve. La ocasión que más recuerda fue cuando le entregó al Papa Francisco una copia
original del breviario jesuita (libro de oraciones) impreso a principios del siglo XVII. El Papa estaba
encantado de recibir este artefacto espiritual de su propia orden religiosa jesuita. El Obispo
Mueggenborg expresó su gratitud personal al Papa Francisco por su nombramiento al episcopado
(Orden de Obispos) en 2017 y por su nombramiento como Obispo de Reno en 2021. Sobre todo, el
Obispo Mueggenborg expresó su admiración por el Papa Francisco y su testimonio personal de fe:
“El Papa Francisco eligió la imagen de Cristo, el Buen Pastor, para su cruz pectoral. Esa imagen
captura apropiadamente cómo comprendió y ejerció su función como Pastor Supremo de la Iglesia,
cuidando del rebaño de Cristo. Fue un testimonio vivo de lo que significa un servicio fiel, humilde,
desinteresado y sacrificado. Será recordado por sus incansables esfuerzos por traer justicia,
misericordia y paz al mundo. Su heroica defensa de los vulnerables dignificó a los que no tenían voz
e infundió valor a los perseguidos. El mundo ha perdido a un hombre verdaderamente grande”.
El Obispo Mueggenborg pide a todos los católicos y personas de buena voluntad que recen por el
descanso eterno del alma del Papa Francisco. Los católicos rezamos por los difuntos como
expresión de nuestra fe en la misericordia de Dios y en el Misterio Pascual de Cristo Resucitado.
También nos pide que oremos por la Iglesia y por el mundo, para que el legado del Papa Francisco
siga guiando nuestros corazones y mentes a seguir los caminos de la paz, la vida, la caridad y la
compasión.
El Obispo Mueggenborg celebrará una Misa Diocesana en honor del Papa Francisco con la
comunidad de la Escuela Secundaria Católica Bishop Manogue a las 10:30 a. m. del jueves 24 de
abril en la Iglesia de Santa Rosa de Lima. El público también está invitado a asistir a esta Misa. Se
proporcionarán asientos adicionales.
Se anunciarán más detalles sobre los eventos locales, incluyendo las Misas Conmemorativas en las
parroquias en memoria del Papa Francisco, a medida que se confirmen.
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