In a significant appointment for the Catholic Church in the United States, Pope Francis has named Bishop Richard G. Henning of Providence, Rhode Island, as the next archbishop of Boston. Archbishop-designate Henning, who became the ninth bishop of Providence on May 1, 2023, will succeed Cardinal Seán Patrick O’Malley, OFM Cap., who has served as the archbishop of Boston since 2003. The Holy See announced the appointment today.
A legacy of hope and renewal
Archbishop Henning, 59, brings a wealth of experience and a deep commitment to pastoral ministry to his new role. He has been widely recognized for his efforts to engage with diverse communities and his dedication to fostering a spirit of hope and renewal within the Church. His appointment comes as the Archdiocese of Boston continues to navigate the clerical sexual abuse crisis that plunged the diocese into chaos more than 20 years ago.
According to the Boston Globe, Archbishop Henning inherits a stable situation in Boston. The archdiocese operated a $15 million deficit in 2003, when Cardinal O’Malley took the helm. In 2023, the diocese had a $13 million surplus. Cardinal O’Malley offered his retirement to Pope Francis in 2019, as required by canon law, having reached his 75th birthday. However, at the Holy Father’s behest, Cardinal O’Malley, 80, has continued to lead the archdiocese.
The Archdiocese of Boston is one of the oldest dioceses in the U.S. It was founded in 1808. Serving 1.8 million Catholics across 144 cities and towns in eastern Massachusetts, the archdiocese is the fourth largest in the nation.
Short tenure in Providence
Sources tell Our Sunday Visitor that the clergy and faithful of Providence are sad to see Bishop Henning leave. During his short tenure, Archbishop Henning made an overwhelmingly positive impression, the same sources say.
Archbishop Henning said in a statement, “Over the last two years, you may have noticed that I usually have something to say. I regret that in this instance, I do not feel that I can find the words to express my sorrow in leaving the Church of Providence.” The archbishop expressed his gratitude for the warm welcome he received in Providence. “Your resilience in the face of challenges, your commitment to family and community, and your abiding faith in Jesus have lifted me and taught me. I am ever in your debt,” he said.
Surprisingly, Archbishop Henning’s brief stint in Providence mirrors that of his predecessor’s service in his former see. Appointed bishop of Palm Beach, Florida, on September 3, 2002, Cardinal O’Malley was named archbishop of Boston by Pope St. John Paul II on July 1, 2003, when he succeeded Cardinal Bernard Law.
Upon his arrival in Providence, at a welcome Mass on January 26, 2023, shortly after he was appointed co-adjutor bishop, Archbishop Henning spoke about the Rhode Island state motto. “To see on a state flag that ancient Christian symbol, the anchor, the symbol of hope, and not just the symbol, the word is written right there on that flag,” he said. “In my prayer I thought, ‘I’m going to live in the state of hope.'” But that residency was not long-lived.
“I think it is very important in terms of vision to do a lot of listening,” Archbishop Henning said during an interview on WPRI 12’s Newsmakers. “So this whole year for me has been less about telling people my solution for them, and more about hearing from them what their experience is.”
Long Island native heads north
Born in 1964 in Rockville Centre, New York, Archbishop Henning is the oldest of five siblings. He was raised in Valley Stream and received his early sacraments at Holy Name of Mary Parish, where he also attended grammar school. His formative years were influenced by the Marianists at Chaminade High School, who played a significant role in shaping his faith and commitment to learning.
After completing his undergraduate studies at St. John’s University in Queens, New York, Archbishop Henning trained for the priesthood at the Seminary of the Immaculate Conception in Huntington, New York, and was ordained in 1992. He initially served as an associate pastor at the Church of St. Peter of Alcantara in Port Washington, where he was deeply involved in pastoral work and ministered to the Spanish-speaking community. He later earned a doctorate at the University of St. Thomas Aquinas (the Angelicum) in Rome, Italy, where he specialized in the study of sacred scripture. In addition to English and Spanish, Archbishop Henning speaks Italian and can read French, Greek and Hebrew. Following his studies, he joined the faculty at the Seminary of the Immaculate Conception, where he taught Scripture for over a decade.
Before his appointment to Providence, Archbishop Henning served as an auxiliary bishop in the Diocese of Rockville Centre, New York. He was ordained as an auxiliary bishop on July 24, 2018, at St. Agnes Cathedral in Rockville Centre, by Bishop John O. Barres, with Bishops William Murphy and Robert Brennan as co-consecrators.
