Cleveland bishop's retirement accepted; Boston auxiliary is successor

Published: 2006-04-04

WASHINGTON (CNS) -- Pope Benedict XVI has accepted the retirement of Bishop Anthony M. Pilla of Cleveland and appointed Auxiliary Bishop Richard G. Lennon of Boston as his successor. Archbishop Pietro Sambi, apostolic nuncio to the United States, made the announcement in Washington April 4. Bishop Lennon's installation is to take place May 15 at Cleveland's Cathedral of St. John the Evangelist. In what was then the National (now U.S.) Conference of Catholic Bishops, Bishop Pilla served as treasurer 1990-92, vice president 1992-95 and president 1995-98. He turned 73 last November and marked his 25th anniversary as bishop of Cleveland Jan. 6. In an interview last December with the Catholic Universe Bulletin, his diocesan newspaper, he said he was looking forward to retirement because after 25 years "it's time for a change." Bishop Lennon, 59, has been an auxiliary bishop of Boston since 2001. He was apostolic administrator of the archdiocese for a turbulent seven months from December 2002 to July 2003 after Cardinal Bernard F. Law resigned as archbishop in the midst of Boston's crisis over clergy sexual abuse of minors.

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