UPDATE: Pope announces Bishop of Providence to succeed O’Malley

BOSTON, Mass. (WLNE) — The Vatican officially announced this morning that Pope Francis has officially accepted the resignation of Boston Cardinal Sean O’Malley.

After 20 years, O’Malley is set to retire.

O’Malley is the ninth bishop and sixth archbishop in the more than 200-year history of the Archdiocese of Boston.

He served for 10 years as the Bishop in Fall River and in Palm Beach before becoming serving in Boston.

He was ordained as a priest back in 1975 in the Order of Friars Minor Capuchin.

Bishop Richard Henning of Providence will be the one to take his place.

Henning has been serving in that role since 2022.

O’Malley is currently 80-years-old.

During a press conference this morning, O’Malley officially introduced Henning this during a 10:00 a.m. introductory press conference at the Pastoral Center in Braintree.

A mass was held beforehand.

“I’m humbled by the size and history of this archdiocese and I am very well aware that I have a lot to learn. So I’ll be looking for, eager for your witness of faith and to learn your wisdom. I think my first job really is just to be listener and to begin to understand,” he said.

New Archbishop of Boston Richard Henning sits in a press conference, August 5. (WLNE)

Henning won’t officially take over until October 31, but he said his first goal is to start learning Spanish and Portuguese to get to know his community more.