Pope Francis Accepts Resignation of Auxiliary Bishop of Boston

WASHINGTON—Pope Francis has accepted theresignation of Bishop Arthur Kennedy, Auxiliary Bishop of the Archdiocese ofBoston. Bishop Kennedy is retiring havingreached the retirement age for bishops of 75 on January 9.

The resignation and appointment was publicizedin Washington, June 30, by Archbishop Christophe Pierre, apostolic nuncio tothe United States.  

Bishop Kennedy was appointed by HisHoliness Pope Benedict XVI on June 30, 2010 and was installed as auxiliarybishop on September 14, 2010. Other posts included Titular Bishop of Timidana.He chose as his episcopal motto: Utcognoscant te, meaning, "so that they may know you."

A native of the Archdiocese of Boston,Bishop Kennedy was ordained to the priesthood on December 17, 1966. From 2002-2005, amidst his assignments asuniversity professor at St. Thomas in Saint Paul, Minnesota, Kennedy served asexecutive director of the Secretariat for Ecumenical and Interreligious Affairsfor the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops. Most recently, he also served as Rector ofSaint John's Seminary in Brighton, Massachusetts, from July 2007 until July2012. 

The Archdiocese of Boston comprises 2,465 squaremiles. It has a total population of 4,147,275  people of which 1,949,219 or 47 percent, areCatholic. Cardinal Seán Patrick O'Malley, GCIH OFM Cap, is the current Archbishop of the Archdiocese of Boston.

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Keywords: Pope Francis,U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops, USCCB, Auxiliary Bishop Arthur Kennedy,retirement, Archdiocese of Boston, Cardinal Seán Patrick O'Malley.

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