Michael J. Byrnes

Michael Jude Byrnes (born August 23, 1958) is an American prelate of the Catholic Church who served as Archbishop of Agaña from 2019 to 2023. He was an auxiliary bishop in the Archdiocese of Detroit from 2011 to 2016.

Early life
Born in Detroit, Michigan, on August 23, 1958, Michael Ryan graduated from Detroit Catholic Central High School.

Byrnes was ordained to the priesthood by Cardinal Adam Maida at the Cathedral of the Most Blessed Sacrament in Detroit on May 25, 1996, for the Archdiocese of Detroit. Beginning in 2004, he served as vice rector of Sacred Heart Major Seminary in Detroit as well as a parish pastor.

Auxiliary Bishop of Detroit
On March 22, 2011, Byrnes was appointed titular bishop of Eguga and auxiliary bishop of the Archdiocese of Detroit. He was consecrated by Archbishop Allen Henry Vigneron at the Cathedral of the Most Blessed Sacrament on May 5, 2011. His co-consecrators were Archbishop John Nienstedt and Bishop John Quinn.

Coadjutor Archbishop and Archbishop of Agaña
On October 31, 2016, Byrnes was appointed by Pope Francis as coadjutor archbishop with special faculties of the Archdiocese of Agaña. He was installed as coadjutor archbishop on November 30.

Although Archbishop Anthony Apuron of Agaña was found guilty on charges of the sexual abuse of minors by an Apostolic Tribunal of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith on March 16, 2018, he was only suspended from the exercise of his authority over the archdiocese and retained his title pending the outcome of his appeals. Byrnes succeeded to the position of archbishop in everything except title at that time.

Byrnes became archbishop of Agaña on April 4, 2019, when Apuron lost his title, having exhausted his appeals. On April 6, the Holy See Press Office confirmed that Byrnes had succeeded to the office of archbishop at the conclusion of judicial proceedings against Apuron.

Retirement
On March 28, 2023, Pope Francis accepted Byrnes' resignation as archbishop of Agaña for medical reasons. Byrnes had left Guam in June 2022 and been on medical leave for several months.