Pope names Rhode Island bishop to succeed Cardinal O’Malley in Boston

By Gregory L. Tracy

BRAINTREE, Mass. (OSV News) — Ending months of speculation about the future leadership of the Archdiocese of Boston, Pope Francis has accepted the resignation of Cardinal Seán P. O’Malley and appointed Bishop Richard G. Henning of Providence, Rhode Island, to succeed him as the archdiocese’s 10th bishop and seventh archbishop. .

The resignation and appointment were publicized in Washington Aug. 5 by Cardinal Christophe Pierre, apostolic nuncio to the United States.

According to the archdiocese, Archbishop Henning, 59, will be installed Oct. 31. Cardinal O’Malley remains archbishop of Boston until that date.

An announcement of the new appointment issued by the Boston Archdiocese said Cardinal O’Malley and Archbishop Henning will celebrate Mass together this morning at the archdiocese’s Pastoral Center at 9 a.m., followed by a joint press conference at 10 a.m., which can be viewed live at vimeo.com/event/4489023.

According to rules set by St. Paul VI, all bishops must submit their resignation to the pope at age 75, which the pope is free to accept or defer as he chooses. However, because the same rules dictate that cardinals lose their appointments in Vatican dicasteries and may not participate in the conclave to elect the next pope once they turn 80, it is typically expected that the pope will accept the resignation of active cardinals at or around that age.

Cardinal O’Malley celebrated his 80th birthday on June 29. He has headed the Boston Archdiocese since July 2003. Archbishop Henning has headed the Providence Diocese since his May 1, 2023, installation.

Gregory L. Tracy is managing editor of The Pilot, news outlet of the Archdiocese of Boston.

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