SIOUX CITY (KTIV) - Bishop R. Walker Nickless has spent 19 years leading the Diocese of Sioux City. And with a new bishop expected to take his place in the next few months, he’s thinking about how he’ll be spending his retirement.

Pope Francis has accepted the retirement request for Sioux City Catholic Diocese Bishop Walter Nickless. Bishop Nickless has served Sioux City since 2006 and says he submitted his request for retirement in May of 2022 as is required when you turn 75.

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.