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In his first public appearance as the newly appointed Bishop-elect of the Diocese of Norwich, Monsignor Richard F. Reidy spoke candidly about his unexpected appointment, the challenges facing the diocese, and his commitment to its people. Addressing members of the media at the chancery on Wednesday morning, February 12, Bishop-elect Reidy recounted the moment he received the phone call from Cardinal Christophe Pierre, the apostolic nuncio to the United States. “He told me the Holy Father would like to appoint me to Norwich,” Bishop-elect Reidy said. “I was literally stunned.” After a night of prayer and contemplation, he accepted the appointment and will be installed as the diocese’s sixth bishop on April 29.

Bishop-elect Reidy expressed his dedication to fostering healing and vigilance within the diocese, as well as addressing broader social issues. He echoed Pope Francis’ recent call for respect for human dignity while also recognizing the importance of lawful processes. “The Holy Father urged yesterday we all remember the great dignity of every single human person,” he noted. Bishop-elect Reidy emphasized his desire to personally connect with the faithful, stating, “I plan to get to know the people here and visit the parishes… to look, listen, and learn.”

Watch the full press conference below: