Richard Henning was born on October 17, 1964, to Richard and Maureen Henning in Rockville Centre, New York, growing up at Holy Name of Mary Parish and grade school. His father was a firefighter and his mother was a nurse. Henning credits their examples of service with inspiring his own vocation.[1] He graduated from Chaminade High School in Mineola, New York in 1982.[2]
Henning was awarded a Bachelor of Arts degree in history in 1986 and a Master of Arts degree in history from St. John's University in New York City in 1988. After graduation, he entered the Seminary of the Immaculate Conception in Lloyd Harbor, New York, for priestly formation.[3][4]
Priesthood
On May 30, 1992, Henning was ordained to the priesthood for the Diocese of Rockville Centre by Bishop John R. McGann at St. Agnes Cathedral in Rockville Centre.[5] After his 1992 ordination, the diocese assigned Henning as an assistant pastor at served in a parish in Port Washington, New York.
In 2002, Henning was appointed a professor of sacred scripture at the Seminary of the Immaculate Conception. Henning in 2008 co-authored the book, Christ Our Hope: Benedict XVI’s Apostolic Journey to the United States and Visit to the United Nations.[7]
In 2012, Henning was named rector of Immaculate Conception.[8] He oversaw the transition of Immaculate Conception from a seminary to hosting retreats and a formation program for the laity.[9] He also served as the inaugural director of the Sacred Heart Institute for the Ongoing Formation of Clergy, located in the Immaculate Conception facility.[10][11]
Bishop John O. Barres appointed Henning as vicar for pastoral planning in 2018 and vicar for clergy in Rockville Centre in 2021.[12]
Auxiliary bishop of Rockville Centre
Coat of arms as auxiliary bishop of Rockville Centre and as coadjutor bishop of Providence
Pope Francis appointed Henning as auxiliary bishop of Rockville Centre on June 8, 2018.[3][13] He was consecrated by Barres at St. Agnes Cathedral on July 24, 2018, with Bishops William Murphy and Robert J. Brennan serving as co-consecrators.[5]
Coadjutor bishop and bishop of Providence
Coat of arms as bishop of Providence
On November 23, 2022, Francis appointed Henning as coadjutor bishop of Providence to assist Bishop Thomas J. Tobin. He was installed on January 26, 2023.[14][15] Henning succeeded as bishop of Providence on May 1, 2023, when Tobin retired.[16]
Archbishop of Boston
On August 5, 2024, Francis named Henning to succeed Seán Patrick O'Malley as archbishop of Boston.[17] When asked in August 2024 about the sexual abuse scandal in the Catholic Church, Henning replied;
“If there are Catholics who are scandalized, I understand why they’re scandalized. It’s scandalous and certainly painful for me over the course of my life. But it has not made me lose my faith in God or my faith in the possibility of reconciliation and new life, even in the midst of what may feel devastating. So I would say to them that if I have failed you, if a leader in their Church has failed you, I’m so sorry, but God has not failed you."[7]
Henning was installed as archbishop in Boston on October 31, 2024.[18] He is fluent in Spanish and Italian and literate in French, Greek, and Hebrew.[19]
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