New Bishop Named for Syracuse Roman Catholic Diocese

The bishop of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Syracuse is retiring and Pope Francis has appointed his successor.

Bishop-elect Douglas John Lucia will become the 11th bishop of the Syracuse Diocese.

Bishop Robert Cunningham submitted his resignation to the pope last June upon his 75th birthday as required by canon law. He has been Bishop of Syracuse since May 2009.

The 56-year-old Lucia will be ordained and installed at the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception in Syracuse. The date of his installation will be announced soon.

Lucia was born in Plattsburgh. He received a Bachelor of Arts from Wadhams Hall Seminary College in 1985 and a Masters of Divinity from Christ the King Seminary in East Aurora in 1989.

Cunningham will serve as Apostolic Administrator until Lucia's installation.

There are more than 220,000 Catholics in the Syracuse Diocese, which includes Broome, Chenango, Cortland and four other counties.

Contact WNBF News reporter Bob Joseph: bob@wnbf.com

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