Good morning everyone:  Today at noon in Rome, 6:00 a.m. Cleveland time, the Holy See announced that Bishop Lennon was resigning due to health reasons and that Bishop Daniel E. Thomas of Toledo was appointed by the Pope Francis to serve as the Apostolic Administrator of the Diocese of Cleveland until a new Bishop is appointed.  Bishop Thomas will continue to serve as the Bishop of Toledo while overseeing the governance of the Diocese of Cleveland.

I just left the press conference held here at Cathedral Square during which both Bishop Lennon and Bishop Thomas spoke and Bishop Thomas also answered questions from the media.  I am grateful to Bishop Lennon for his years of service to the Diocese and, while I expected to serve under his leadership for more than six months, I admire him for making the courageous and difficult decision to step down.  I greatly enjoyed working with Bishop Lennon and am thankful for the kindness, support, and encouragement he has given me since I arrived in the Diocese on July 1.

As some of you may know, I served in the Diocese of Toledo under Bishop Thomas’ leadership for a little less than two years before moving to work with all of you here in Cleveland.  He is a holy man of immense faith, joy and boundless energy who loves being with people.  I was blessed to be with him in Diocese of Toledo and look forward to once again working with him while he serves the Diocese of Cleveland in the interim role of Apostolic Administrator.

As we continue to celebrate Christmas and look forward to a new year, please pray for Bishop Lennon, Bishop Thomas and for Pope Francis as he discerns who to send to Cleveland as our next Bishop.

In Christ,

 

 

Christopher Knight

Secretary for Catechetical Formation and Education/Superintendent

Diocese of Cleveland

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