Cleveland, Ohio, Oct 30, 2019 / 14:00 pm
Bishop Richard Gerard Lennon died at the age of 72 on Tuesday, Oct. 29 after receiving the sacraments. His colleagues and admirers praised his service to the Church.
Lennon was until 2016 the Bishop of Cleveland.
His successor, Bishop Nelson J. Perez, praised the bishop's life.
"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 rest," Bishop Perez said in a statement from the Diocese of Cleveland.
Lennon was was installed in 2006 as the tenth Bishop of Cleveland after Pope Benedict XVI appointed him to the position. He resigned in December 2016, citing poor health. At the time the Cleveland diocese said Lennon suffered from vascular dementia, which causes cognitive impairment due to reduced blood flow to the brain, Cleveland.com reports.