Pope Leo XIV has bestowed the title of “Chaplain to His Holiness” upon Reverend Michael J.K. Fuller, General Secretary of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops, according to a March 10 announcement. This honor grants Fuller the title of Monsignor.
The recognition was announced during a meeting of the USCCB’s Administrative Committee. Archbishop Paul S. Coakley, president of the USCCB, said, “In his work, Fr. Fuller has demonstrated a pastoral heart, a theologian’s mind, and a worthy steward’s deft guiding hand.” Coakley added that last fall his predecessor, Archbishop Timothy Broglio, along with Bishop David Malloy of Rockford, had proposed Fuller for this recognition due to his exemplary priesthood and service as a seminary formator, theologian, and General Secretary.
Monsignor Fuller is a priest from the Diocese of Rockford and has served in various roles at the USCCB since 2016. He began as head of the Secretariat for Doctrine and Canonical Affairs before joining the offices of the General Secretariat in 2021.
Before joining the USCCB staff, Fuller was associate professor and chair of Spiritual Theology at Mundelein Seminary from 2011 to 2016. He also edited Chicago Studies Theological Journal and served as spiritual director and instructor for diaconate formation programs in both Rockford and Chicago. His earlier roles included teaching at Creighton University’s Institute for Priestly Formation and serving as an instructor in health care ethics at Saint Anthony School of Nursing in Illinois.
Fuller holds advanced degrees in sacred theology from Mundelein Seminary and was ordained for Rockford in 1997. Prior to entering seminary formation, he spent two years as a Peace Corps volunteer in Swaziland. He is also an author with publications including “Daily Prayer 2008” and “The Virgin Martyrs: A Hagiographical and Mystagogical Interpretation.”
The Administrative Committee that made this announcement operates as the board of directors for the Conference.
