the roman catholic diocese of rockford () is an ecclesiastical territory or diocese of the roman catholic church in the northern illinois region of the united states. the prelate is a bishop serving as the pastor of the mother church, the cathedral of saint peter in the city of rockford. pope benedict xvi appointed david john malloy, as the ninth and current bishop on march 20, 2012. he was installed on may 14, 2012. a diocese of the metropolitan province of chicago, the metropolitan bishop of rockford is the archbishop of chicago.