WPRO News

The Catholic Diocese of Providence has its new Bishop, as Pope Francis Monday accepted the resignation of Bishop Thomas Tobin, automatically elevating Coadjutor Bishop Richard Henning to the ninth Bishop of Providence.

Bishop Tobin had rendered his letter of resignation to Pope Francis when he reached the age of 75 on April 1.

A New York native, Bishop Henning was introduced November 23, 2022 in a news conference at the Cathedral of Saints Peter and Paul, the seat of the diocese. He previously served as auxiliary bishop of the Diocese of Rockville Centre, New York.

“For the last several months, I have been visiting communities across this “State of Hope,” Bishop Henning said in a statement. “My gratitude to God for this new ministry in the Diocese of Providence has only deepened as I have come to know its clergy, religious, and people.

“I am particularly grateful for the time with Bishop Tobin whose own ministry as Diocesan Bishop for 18 years offers me a powerful witness of faith and a model of selfless service to the People of God.”

Bishop Tobin expressed his “enormous gratitude” to members of the church, and also issued a statement that read in part:

“For the mistakes I’ve made, for my faults and failures, I am deeply sorry. And for those times when some individuals were offended by my words and deeds, I am truly sorry for that too. It can be very difficult to preach the Gospel of Christ, and to carry on the mission of the church in the world today, but that’s what we are called to do. There are many pitfalls, and it is a daily challenge to strike a perfect balance of courage and prudence; to be simultaneously “strong, loving and wise” (2 Tim 1:7) in the service of the Lord.”