Mark Eckman
Mark Anthony Eckman is an American Catholic prelate who has been serving as the bishop for the Diocese of Pittsburgh in Pennsylvania since 2025, after having been an auxiliary bishop of the same diocese since 2022.
Biography
Early life
Mark Eckman was born on February 9, 1959, in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. He attended Saint Valentine Elementary School and South Hills Catholic High School in Mt. Lebanon, Pennsylvania.After his high school graduation, Eckman entered Duquesne University in Pittsburgh, receiving a Bachelor of Arts degree in 1981. Deciding to become a priest, he continued his studies at Saint Vincent Seminary in Latrobe, Pennsylvania.
Priesthood
On May 11, 1985, Eckman was ordained to the priesthood for the Diocese of Pittsburgh by Archbishop Anthony Bevilacqua at St. Paul Cathedral in Pittsburgh, After his ordination in 1985, the diocese assigned Eckman as parochial vicar to Resurrection parish in Pittsburgh, Saint Sebastian in Ross Township, Saint Valentine in Bethel Park, Saint Winifred in Castle Shannon, and Saint John Vianney in Pittsburgh.The diocese in 1998 placed Eckman as pastor at Saint Sylvester Parish in Pittsburgh, where he would serve for the next 11 years. In 2006, he also became pastor at St. Norbert Parish in Pittsburgh. In 2009, he was made pastor of Saint Thomas More Parish, remaining there until 2021. He was made episcopal vicar for clergy personnel in 2013.
Auxiliary Bishop of Pittsburgh
Eckman was named auxiliary bishop of Pittsburgh in 2021. On January 11, 2022, Eckman was consecrated by Bishop David Zubik at St. Paul Cathedral, with Bishops David Bonnar and Edward J. Burns serving as co-consecrators.Bishop of Pittsburgh
On June 4, 2025, Eckman succeeded Zubik as the Bishop of Pittsburgh. He was installed as diocesan bishop on July 14, 2025, at Saint Paul Cathedral in Pittsburgh.In a November 2025 letter, Eckman criticized immigration policies made during the second presidency of Donald Trump. While acknowledging "the right of a nation to enforce its laws and control its border," Eckman also wrote:
"Currently, immigrants face deportation, often without warning, and at times without due process protections. Tragically, their families are being separated, with the 'bread winner' being deported and US-citizen children being left behind in this country without even being able to say goodbye to their parent. Children are left in the only country they know without a father or mother who can provide for them. This is happening in our diocese, and it is cruel and inhumane."