Former Cleveland Bishop Richard Lennon Dead At 72

CLEVELAND — The 10th bishop of the Cleveland Diocese, Richard Lennon, died Tuesday. He was 72.

Lennon oversaw the Cleveland Diocese from 2006 to 2016, when he was granted early retirement by Pope Francis. Lennon's successor mourned his passing on Tuesday.

“In his service to the diocese, Bishop Lennon showed a deep dedication to the faithful governance of the diocese and a tremendous love of the Church and the people he shepherded. May the Lord grant him eternal res," said Nelson Perez, the 11th bishop of the Diocese of Cleveland.

Born in Arlington, Massachusetts, Lennon grew up in the Boston area. He attended Boston College before entering St. John's Seminary, where he earned a Master's in church history and sacramental theology. He was ordained to the priesthood in May 1973. His first posting was as a parish priest in the Archdiocese of Boston.

Lennon served as a fire department chaplain and an assistant for canonical affairs and rector of St. John's Seminary for years. In 2001, he was ordained as an auxiliary bishop in the Archdiocese of Boston.

He was appointed the 10th bishop of Cleveland in 2006 by Pope Benedict. During his tenure in Northeast Ohio, Lennon prioritized evangelization and visited all of the parishes and schools in his new diocese. He also oversaw the reconfiguration of much of the diocese, with 50 parishes closing under his watch, and 17 merged parishes emerging.

Due to his health struggles, Lennon wrote a letter to Pope Francis requested early retirement. On December 28, 2016, the pope granted Lennon's early retirement.