Bishop Richard Henning will take over as the brand new chief of the Archdiocese of Boston, Pope Francis introduced Monday.
“As I look forward now to this new ministry in the Bay State, I would like to offer greetings to the clergy, religious and faithful of Boston and to all men and women of goodwill,” mentioned Henning at a press occasion Monday morning. “I’m humbled by the size and the history of this Archdiocese, and I am very well aware I have a lot to learn, and so I’ll be looking for, eager for your witness of faith and to learn your wisdom.”
Henning, 59, now leads the Diocese of Windfall in Rhode Island. The Archbishop-elect will exchange Cardinal Sean O’Malley, 80, the long-time head of the Catholic church in Boston.
The Vatican launched the information in a memo from Pope Francis early Monday, and the archdiocese confirmed the information at a ten a.m. joint press convention on the Archdiocese of Boston Pastoral Middle in Braintree. Archbishop-elect Henning shall be put in as Archbishop of Boston Oct. 31 on the Cathedral of the Holy Cross in Boston.
Henning would be the tenth bishop and seventh archbishop of the Archdiocese of Boston, which was created in 1808.
“We’re blessed with a very vibrant Catholic community,” O’Malley mentioned of Boston. “For the two decades that I have been here as Archbishop. I found strength in the deep faith of our Catholic people. They care about the less fortunate, forgotten, sick, single mothers caring for children, persons suffering from addiction, migrants, and for the homeless.”
O’Malley was appointed the Archbishop of Boston in 2003 by Pope John Paul II, succeeding Cardinal Bernard Regulation after he resigned amid the fallout of the clergy intercourse abuse scandal. The Archbishop was appointed a cardinal in 2006 by Pope Benedict XVI.
The Ohio-native served as Bishop of Fall River for a decade and briefly as Bishop of Palm Seashore earlier than coming to Boston.
Throughout his time as a cardinal, O’Malley was introduced into the Council of Cardinal Advisers by Pope Francis after it was fashioned to assist govern and reform the Catholic Church in 2013 and Pontifical Fee for the Safety of Minors in 2014. He served as president of the Fee from 2014 till 2024, when he reached the age for obligatory retirement from the submit.
Gov. Maura Healey issued an announcement congratulating the cardinal on his service and retirement and thanking him for the possibility to “seek and receive his advice many times” in workplace.
“I greatly admire his deep faith and his empathy and compassion for all,” Healey mentioned. “He will be remembered for his lifesaving support for families experiencing homelessness, his advocacy for more affordable housing, his support for victims of human trafficking and his global leadership in the fight against climate change.”
O’Malley provided his resignation when he turned 75 in 2019, which is requested of cardinals by the church, however was requested to remain on longer. Cardinals lose their proper to vote in a conclave at age 80. Regardless of his retirement, O’Malley mentioned he’s not planning on “taking up golf” anytime quickly and can stay energetic within the church.
As the pinnacle of the Diocese of Windfall for simply over a 12 months, Henning acknowledged his appointment might come as a shock to many, “as it was to (him).” He succeeded Bishop Thomas Tobin after his retirement in Could 2023, turning into a Bishop.
Initially from New York, Henning was beforehand appointed Coadjutor Bishop of Windfall in 2022 by Pope Francis.
Henning spoke on a number of points throughout the church’s purview, together with the fallout of sexual abuse, the native migrant disaster, and abortion.
“I will admit I don’t know that I’ve ever been an activist,” Henning mentioned. “I’m not that exciting. And my stance in Providence has been that I’m a pastor and not a politician.”
The bishop famous he’s pro-life, “because I believe that the gospel teaches us sacred dignity of every human life,” however added that “every woman should have a full choice.” Of the migrant disaster, Henning mentioned he’ll develop into educated within the position of the Archdiocese and thinks of the problem within the lens of “reverence for the human person.”
Henning famous he was a toddler as “crimes and sins were committed” in the course of the clergy abuse scandal and expressed the intent to hearken to the continued “pain and woundedness” of survivors.
Others expressed concern with Henning’s appointment and O’Malley’s legacy on sexual abuse within the archdiocese.
“To most clergy sexual abuse victims, the replacement of Cardinal O’Malley by Bishop Henning is business as usual within the Catholic Church,” mentioned Mitchell Garabedian, a lawyer for clergy sexual abuse victims. “Bishop Henning does not have track record of protecting children through either strongly speaking out against clergy sexual abuse or supporting substantive change.”
The management transition will happen over the following a number of months, Henning mentioned Monday, stating he’ll commute commonly from Windfall. As a multilingual pastor, he mentioned, he’s “eager to get to know our Spanish-speaking Catholics here in the Archdiocese.”
The Archbishop appointment was probably the most stunning considered one of his profession, Henning added, and he took three minutes to take a seat down and reply after choosing up the telephone and listening to the information.
“I am not worthy of this call,” Henning mentioned on the press convention. “I was deeply shocked and surprised by this call, but I know the goodness of God suffices in all things. I will trust in Him. God bless the Archdiocese of Boston.”
