Pope Francis on Monday morning named a new archbishop of Boston, replacing Cardinal Sean O’Malley, who has served for more than 20 years.
O’Malley will introduce 59-year-old Reverend Richard G. Henning as the tenth bishop and seventh archbishop of the Archdiocese of Boston during a 10 a.m. press conference at the Pastoral Center in Braintree, according to a memo shared from Vatican City.
Archbishop-elect Henning is currently the Bishop of the Diocese of Providence.
In a statement, Henning said, “I am grateful to His Holiness Pope Francis for his confidence in me and for his conferral of this new mission as Archbishop of Boston. I receive this appointment relying upon divine Providence, aware that this is the Lord’s Church and that I am no more than an unworthy servant. I would also like to express my gratitude to His Eminence Cardinal Sean O’Malley who has served the Church of Boston for many faithful and joyful years. Greetings to the clergy and faithful of Boston. I ask you prayers that I may cling to the Lord’s Holy Cross, honor His mother, imitate His saints, and love you as His people and His ministers.”
O’Malley and Henning plan to concelebrate a 9 a.m. Mass in the Bethany Chapel in the Pastoral Center before the announcement.
Henning will be installed as Archbishop of Boston on Thursday, October 31, 2024, at the Cathedral of the Holy Cross in Boston.
O’Malley, 80, is retiring from his role. He is the 9th bishop and 6th archbishop of the Archdiocese of Boston.
“On behalf of the entire Archdiocese of Boston, including our priests, religious, deacons, and laity we welcome Archbishop-elect Richard Henning. We extend our deep gratitude to the Holy Father for this appointment demonstrating his ongoing pastoral care for the people of the Archdiocese,” O’Malley said in a statement. “I look forward to our people and the wider community getting to know our new Archbishop-elect in the days, weeks, months, and years ahead. He ministers with the heart of a pastor with a sincere commitment to serving Christ and the Church.”
St. John Paul II had tapped O’Malley to take over in Boston in 2003 at the height of the clergy sexual abuse scandal and in 2013, he was considered among a small group of contenders to replace Pope Benedict. In 2019, Pope Francis asked O’Malley to remain in his position, extending the retirement age to 80.
Francis has long expressed his esteem for O’Malley and selected him as a founding member of his core cardinal advisers, known as the C9.
Additional details are expected to be released later.
Boston 25 News will livestream the announcement here.
This is a developing story. Check back for updates as more information becomes available.
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