Newark, N.J., Sep 22, 2016 / 10:06 am
Archbishop emeritus Peter Leo Gerety of Newark, the oldest Catholic bishop in the world, passed away Sept. 20 at the age of 104 – 77 years after his ordination as a priest and after 50 years as a bishop.
"Today this local Church of Newark mourns a remarkable Churchman whose love for the people of God was always strong and ever-growing," Archbishop John J. Myers of Newark said.
"He served as shepherd of this great Archdiocese during a time of spiritual reawakening in the years after the Second Vatican Council, and a time of deep financial difficulties. He very carefully led the Church, her people and institutions through those challenges," Archbishop Myers continued.
The archbishop was born July 19, 1912 in Sheldon, Conn. He was the eldest of nine sons of New Jersey natives Peter L. and Charlotte Daly Gerety.