Maine bishop retires, successor named; Wis. auxiliary also retires

Published: 2004-02-10

WASHINGTON (CNS) -- Pope John Paul II has accepted the resignation of Bishop Joseph J. Gerry of Portland, Maine, and has named Auxiliary Bishop Richard J. Malone of Boston as his successor. He also has accepted the resignation of Auxiliary Bishop George O. Wirz of Madison, Wis. The changes were announced Feb. 10 in Washington by Archbishop Gabriel Montalvo, apostolic nuncio to the United States. Bishop Gerry, who turned 75 -- the normal retirement age for bishops -- last Sept. 12, had been bishop of Portland since Feb. 21, 1989, and had served as auxiliary bishop of Portland for three years before that. Bishop Gerry's successor, Bishop Malone, has been an auxiliary bishop of Boston since 2000. His major work before that time had been in Catholic education. Bishop Wirz, who turned 75 on Jan. 17, had been among the last dozen active U.S. bishops to be appointed by Pope Paul VI.

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