Pope Names Providence Bishop as Boston’s Next Archbishop

Pope Francis named Bishop Richard G. Henning of Providence as the next Archbishop of Boston, the Archdiocese of Boston announced on Aug. 5.

Henning, 59, will succeed Cardinal Sean O’Malley, who is retiring. He will become the 10th bishop and seventh archbishop of the Archdiocese of Boston. O’Malley, 80, has been Boston’s archbishop since 2003.

Henning will be officially installed on Oct. 31 in a ceremony at the Cathedral of the Holy Cross in Boston.

“The arrival of a new archbishop is always a time of renewal and hope,” O’Malley said during a news conference on Monday. “Pope Francis has said a priest is someone who transmits hope to restless hearts. Archbishop Henning is a joyful pastor who seeks to serve Christ.”

The Archdiocese of Boston is the fourth largest in the United States, serving more than 1.8 million Roman Catholics. During the news conference, Henning said he was deeply shocked and surprised” by his appointment.

“It was, originally, it was just shock. But I had a little time to do some praying and to think a lot about it,” he said. “I’ve really loved my time in Rhode Island, so that makes it a little bit of a mixed feeling today, but I’m excited for this new ministry. I feel grateful to the Holy Father for his confidence. This seems like an enormous task so it’s going to be something I’ll have to throw myself entirely into.”

Henning was named the ninth bishop of Providence on May 1, 2023, replacing Thomas Tobin.

“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,” Henning said in a statement before Monday’s news conference. “In so many ways and moments, you have welcomed me into your churches, homes, and hearts. 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.”

According to a news release from the Vatican, Henning was born on Oct. 17, 1964, in Rockville Centre, New York. His biography notes that Henning grew up in Valley Stream, New York and was baptized at the Holy Name of Mary Parish. He also received his first communion and was confirmed at the church.

“I am very well aware that I have a lot to learn,” Henning told reporters. “My first job, really, is just to be a listener.”

Henning attended Chaminade High School in Mineola, New York. He earned a bachelor’s degree and a master’s in history at St. John’s University in Queens, New York.

He carried out his ecclesiastical studies at the Seminary of the Immaculate Conception in Huntington, New York.

According to the Vatican, Henning was ordained as a priest for the Diocese of Rockville Centre on May 30, 1992.

Before becoming a bishop, Henning served as an associate pastor at the Church of St. Peter of Alcantara in Port Washington, New York, from 1992 to 1997.

Henning earned a licentiate in biblical theology at the Catholic University of America in Washington, D.C. (2000) and a doctorate in biblical theology from the University of St. Thomas Aquinas in Rome (2007).

Henning was named an auxiliary bishop of the Diocese of Rockville Centre on June 8, 2018, by Pope Francis.

On Nov. 23, 2022, the pontiff appointed Henning as the coadjutor bishop of Providence.