YOUNGSTOWN - Pope Francis has appointed the Rev. John Keehner, a priest of the Diocese of Youngstown, as the eighth bishop of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Sioux City, Iowa. The appointment was announced Wednesday by Cardinal Christophe Pierre, the apostolic nuncio to the United States.

Keehner, 59, was born in Youngstown and ordained a priest in 1993. He completed his seminary studies at the Athenaeum of Ohio, Mount Saint Mary Seminary, Cincinnati.

He has served in various roles within the Youngstown diocese, including parochial vicar at St. Charles Parish in Boardman, judge for the Diocesan Tribunal, Newman Center Chaplain for Youngstown State University, rector of St. Columba Cathedral, and pastor of several parishes, including St. Christine Parish, St. Luke Parish, St. Paul Parish, Holy Spirit Parish and most recently, Our Lady of Peace Parish, Assumption Parish, Corpus Christi Parish and St. Andrew Bobola Parish.

Keehner said he is "truly humbled" by the appointment. He chose "He must increase, I must decrease" as his episcopal motto, words spoken by his patron saint, John the Baptist. He explained that he chose the motto conscious of the need to "let go of himself" and allow Christ to manifest himself.

Bishop David Bonnar of Youngstown said Pope Francis "desires men with a shepherd’s heart to be his episcopal shepherds" and that Keehner "checks all the boxes in this regard."

Keehner will be ordained and installed as bishop on May 1, 2025, at 2 p.m. CT (3 p.m. EST) at the Cathedral of the Epiphany in Sioux City.