- Reaction to Shooting at Florida High School from Bishop Conference President
- The Most Reverend Barry C. Knestout named Bishop Diocese of Richmond
- Statement from Reverend Monsignor Mark Lane, Diocesan Administrator
- Cardinal Wuerl’s Statement on the New Appointment
Reaction to Shooting at Florida High School from Bishop Conference President
WASHINGTON—Following the tragic shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida, Daniel Cardinal DiNardo of Galveston-Houston, President of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops, called for prayer and healing.
The full statement is as follows:
“We are deeply saddened by the shootings in Broward County, Florida, and by the needless and tragic loss of life. May the mercy of God comfort the grieving families and sustain the wounded in their healing. Catholics and many other Christians have begun the journey of Lent today. I encourage us to unite our prayers and sacrifices for the healing and consolation of all those who have been affected by violence in these last weeks and for a conversion of heart, that our communities and nation will be marked by peace. I pray also for unity in seeking to build toward a society with fewer tragedies caused by senseless gun violence. Our hope is in the Lord, as he promised after his resurrection, ‘behold, I am with you always, until the end of the age’ (Mt. 28:20).”
The Most Reverend Barry C. Knestout named Bishop Diocese of Richmond
This morning, Dec. 5, 2017, our Holy Father, Pope Francis, named the Most Reverend Barry C. Knestout, auxiliary bishop of the Archdiocese of Washington, to serve as the Catholic Diocese of Richmond’s 13th bishop. His Mass of Installation will be celebrated Friday, January 12, 2018, at 2 p.m. at the Cathedral of the Sacred Heart in Richmond.
To learn more about Bishop-designate Barry C. Knestout at http://Richmonddiocese.org/meet-our-new-bishop.
Statement from the Very Reverend Monsignor Mark Richard Lane, Diocesan Administrator
“Today’s announcement couldn’t come at a more perfect time for us in the Diocese of Richmond. As we begin the Advent season, a time of great excitement and hope for the coming of Christ, we are also filled with abundant joy and happiness that our Holy Father, Pope Francis, has named a new Chief Shepherd so quickly to guide us as we begin a new year and chapter in the life of our diocese. On behalf of our diocesan faith community, we are grateful to Bishop-designate Barry C. Knestout
for accepting this call and we welcome him with open arms and jubilant hearts. I look forward to working with Bishop-designate Knestout and assisting him as he begins his work to serve Christ, the faithful and to build up the household of faith in our diocese as we prepare to celebrate our 200th Anniversary. We offer our prayers for him and we assure the people of the Archdiocese of Washington, where bishop-designate Knestout has served for the last nine years as auxiliary, he will be met with a spirit of excitement and gratitude.”
December 5, 2017
Cardinal Wuerl’s Statement on the New Appointment
Pope Names Washington Auxiliary Bishop Barry C. Knestout as Bishop of Richmond
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Pope Francis today named Washington Auxiliary Bishop Barry C. Knestout as the thirteenth bishop of Richmond. He succeeds Bishop Francis DiLorenzo who served as Richmond’s bishop from 2004 until his death this past August. Cardinal Donald Wuerl, archbishop of Washington, issued the following statement on the news from the Vatican this morning:
“Pope Francis’ appointment of Bishop Barry Knestout as Bishop of Richmond is good news and reason for us to rejoice with the Diocese of Richmond. Bishop Knestout carries with him the affection, respect and admiration of all of us with whom he so generously gave his time and efforts.
“Bishop Knestout has faithfully served as a pastor, Auxiliary Bishop, Vicar General and Moderator of the Curia for the Archdiocese of Washington. He also helped host the pastoral visits to this local Church, first of Pope Benedict XVI and most recently of Pope Francis. During all of this time, he has demonstrated his pastoral skills, his commitment to the Church and her teaching, and his devoted service to those entrusted to his care.
“When I look back over these past years of our close association in ministry, I reflect with gratitude on Bishop Knestout’s role. He was greatly involved in the implementation of the first synod in the history of the Archdiocese of Washington, the revitalization of our educational ministry, the stabilizing of our nearly 100 Catholic schools, together with a renewed and expanded Catholic Charities, the opening of our new Saint John Paul II Seminary, and so many other important aspects of the life of this archdiocese.
“With great appreciation we thank Bishop Knestout as he takes on his new responsibilities and we ask God’s blessings on him.”