PROVIDENCE – The Roman Catholic Diocese of Providence has a new bishop.
Pope Francis has accepted the retirement of Bishop Thomas J. Tobin, who was succeeded by the Rev. Richard G. Henning as of 6 a.m. Monday.
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“It is with profound gratitude and personal peace that I have received word that our Holy Father, Pope Francis, has accepted my request to resign from office, that is, to retire from the active ministry, said Tobin, who has led the Diocese of Providence since 2005. “You have been so good to me! Thank you to the priests, deacons, consecrated women and men, our diocesan staff and all the faithful lay members of our church. … Any good that we have been able to accomplish during the past 18 years is a result, first of all, of your faith, your generosity and your hard work.”
Tobin presented the letter to Pope Francis when he reached the mandatory retirement age of 75 on April 1, as required by the Catholic church. Henning first began as the diocese’s coadjutor bishop after a ceremony in January 2023.
“For the last several months, I have been visiting communities across this ‘State of Hope.” 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,” Henning said. “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.”
Henning previously was the auxiliary bishop for the Roman Catholic Diocese of Rockville Centre in Rockville Centre, N.Y., the last four years. He has also been active in the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops.
When Henning learned in November that he would succeed Tobin in Rhode Island, he said then he had “a lot of learning” to do to understand his new home and plans to be a “spiritual migrant” as the diocese’s new leader. He also plans to take Pope Francis’ advice to be a “listening church.”
“I hope to learn more about this state and the stories of its people,” Henning said. “I want to be able to walk with you and understand your faith and really receive that witness of faith.”
