For the first time in more than 20 years, Boston is saying goodbye to the longtime leader of the Catholic community and welcoming in a new archbishop. A fellow New Englander is taking the reins at the Archdiocese of Boston.
A special mass was held Thursday at the Cathedral of the Holy Cross in Boston's South End to officially name the Most Reverend Richard Henning as the newest Archbishop of Boston.
"My job is I belong to them. I belong to the people of the Archdiocese," Henning said Wednesday night before the installation. "I'm yours and you are mine. I want to love you, know you and serve you."
The former bishop of Providence, Rhode Island, was chosen to replace Cardinal Sean O'Malley, who announced his retirement over the summer.
Hundreds watched as the former Providence bishop accepted his new duties and delivered his first homily as archbishop.
"The most common question I’ve received in the last few months boils down to this: Have you ever been, are you now or will you ever be a Red Sox fan?" he joked.
In all seriousness, the 60-year-old prelate said faith guides his decisions.
"The most important thing that you people of this arch need to know about me is that I believe," Henning said Thursday.
Outside the archbishop stopped to speak with people angry over the church’s handling of clergy sex abuse scandal.
”This man will be just like Sean O’Malley, Bernie Law and Richard Cushing. He’s going to continue the cover-up," one protester said.
Boston has always had a cardinal. Henning isn’t one but some think it’s only a matter of time.
O'Malley was also on hand for Wednesday night's prayer service. Henning delivered the service in Spanish, recognizing the diverse population in the diocese.
Henning is the 10th bishop and seventh archbishop of Boston.
