Pope Francis' main adviser on clergy abuse, Cardinal Seán O'Malley, retires as archbishop of Boston (2024)

FILE - In this Sunday, March 10, 2013 file photo, U.S. Cardinal Sean Patrick O'Malley arrives to the Santa Maria alla Vittoria church in Rome to celebrate Mass. Pope Francis on Monday, Aug. 5, 2024, accepted the resignation of Cardinal Sean O’Malley as archbishop of Boston and named the current bishop of Providence, Rhode Island, Richard Henning, to replace him as leader of one of the most important Catholic archdioceses in the United States.

Cardinal Sean O'Malley, left, responds to a question from a reporter as bishop of Providence, R.I., Richard Henning, right, looks on during a news conference, Monday, Aug. 5, 2024, in Braintree, Mass. Pope Francis on Monday accepted the resignation of O'Malley as archbishop of Boston and named Henning, the current bishop of Providence, to replace him as leader of one of the most important Catholic archdioceses in the United States.

Cardinal Sean O'Malley, front, steps away from members of the media at the conclusion of a news conference as bishop of Providence, R.I., Richard Henning, left, remains to take questions from individual reporters, Monday, Aug. 5, 2024, in Braintree, Mass. Pope Francis on Monday accepted the resignation of O'Malley as archbishop of Boston and named Henning, the current bishop of Providence, to replace him as leader of one of the most important Catholic archdioceses in the United States.

Bishop of Providence, R.I., Richard Henning, right, responds to a question from a reporter as Cardinal Sean O'Malley, left, looks on during a news conference, Monday, Aug. 5, 2024, in Braintree, Mass. Pope Francis on Monday accepted the resignation of O'Malley as archbishop of Boston and named Henning, the current bishop of Providence, to replace him as leader of one of the most important Catholic archdioceses in the United States.

FILE - In this Feb. 13, 2015 file photo, Pope Francis, right, talks with the head of a sex abuse advisory commission, Cardinal Sean Patrick O'Malley, of Boston, as they arrive for a special consistory in the Synod hall at the Vatican. Pope Francis on Monday, Aug. 5, 2024, accepted the resignation of Cardinal Sean O'Malley as archbishop of Boston and named the current bishop of Providence, Rhode Island, Richard Henning, to replace him as leader of one of the most important Catholic archdioceses in the United States.

FILE - Roman Catholic Archbishop Sean O'Malley gives the benediction during commencement ceremonies at Boston College, Monday, May 22, 2023, in Boston. Pope Francis on Monday, Aug. 5, 2024, accepted the resignation of Cardinal Sean O'Malley as archbishop of Boston and named the current bishop of Providence, Rhode Island, Richard Henning, to replace him as leader of one of the most important Catholic archdioceses in the United States.

FILE - Archbishop of Boston Cardinal Sean Patrick O'Malley arrives at the John F. Kennedy Presidential Library and Museum before the 2017 Profile in Courage award Sunday, May 7, 2017, in Boston. Pope Francis on Monday, Aug. 5, 2024, accepted the resignation of Cardinal Sean O'Malley as archbishop of Boston and named the current bishop of Providence, Rhode Island, Richard Henning, to replace him as leader of one of the most important Catholic archdioceses in the United States.

FILE - Boston Cardinal Seán Patrick O'Malley, left, head of the Pontifical Commission for the Protection of Minors, speaks at a press conference at The Vatican, Friday, April 29, 2022, after meeting with Pope Francis. Pope Francis on Monday, Aug. 5, 2024, accepted the resignation of Cardinal Sean O'Malley as archbishop of Boston and named the current bishop of Providence, Rhode Island, Richard Henning, to replace him as leader of one of the most important Catholic archdioceses in the United States.

FILE - Archbishop of Boston Cardinal Sean Patrick O'Malley, center, passes the family of U.S. Senator Edward Kennedy, at left, and present and past presidents, at right, during Kennedy's funeral at the Basilica of Our Lady of Perpetual Help, August 29, 2009, in Boston. Pope Francis on Monday, Aug. 5, 2024, accepted the resignation of Cardinal Sean O'Malley as archbishop of Boston and named the current bishop of Providence, Rhode Island, Richard Henning, to replace him as leader of one of the most important Catholic archdioceses in the United States.

FILE - Boston Cardinal Seán Patrick O'Malley, head of the Pontifical Commission for the Protection of Minors, leaves a press conference at The Vatican, Friday, April 29, 2022, after meeting with Pope Francis. Pope Francis on Monday, Aug. 5, 2024, accepted the resignation of Cardinal Sean O'Malley as archbishop of Boston and named the current bishop of Providence, Rhode Island, Richard Henning, to replace him as leader of one of the most important Catholic archdioceses in the United States.

FILE - Cardinal Sean O'Malley, the archbishop of Boston, speaks after serving during a Christmas Eve luncheon for homeless guests at the Pine Street Inn in Boston, Tuesday, Dec. 24, 2013. Pope Francis on Monday, Aug. 5, 2024, accepted the resignation of Cardinal Sean O'Malley as archbishop of Boston and named the current bishop of Providence, Rhode Island, Richard Henning, to replace him as leader of one of the most important Catholic archdioceses in the United States.

Cardinal Sean O'Malley, left, and bishop of Providence, R.I., Richard Henning, right, face reporters during a news conference, Monday, Aug. 5, 2024, in Braintree, Mass. Pope Francis on Monday accepted the resignation of O'Malley as archbishop of Boston and named Henning, the current bishop of Providence, to replace him as leader of one of the most important Catholic archdioceses in the United States.

Bishop of Providence, R.I., Richard Henning, faces reporters during a news conference, Monday, Aug. 5, 2024, in Braintree, Mass. Pope Francis on Monday accepted the resignation of Cardinal Sean O'Malley as archbishop of Boston and named Henning, the current bishop of Providence, to replace him as leader of one of the most important Catholic archdioceses in the United States. O'Malley also attended the news conference.

Cardinal Sean O'Malley, left, and bishop of Providence, R.I., Richard Henning, right, arrive at a news conference to face reporters, Monday, Aug. 5, 2024, in Braintree, Mass. Pope Francis on Monday accepted the resignation of O'Malley as archbishop of Boston and named Henning, the current bishop of Providence, to replace him as leader of one of the most important Catholic archdioceses in the United States.

Cardinal Sean O'Malley responds to questions from reporters during a news conference, Monday, Aug. 5, 2024, in Braintree, Mass. Pope Francis on Monday accepted the resignation of O'Malley as archbishop of Boston and named bishop of Providence, R.I., Richard Henning, to replace him as leader of one of the most important Catholic archdioceses in the United States. Henning also attended the news conference.

Cardinal Sean O'Malley, left, and bishop of Providence, R.I., Richard Henning, right, face reporters during a news conference, Monday, Aug. 5, 2024, in Braintree, Mass. Pope Francis on Monday accepted the resignation of O'Malley as archbishop of Boston and named Henning, the current bishop of Providence, to replace him as leader of one of the most important Catholic archdioceses in the United States.

Cardinal Sean O'Malley, left, applauds bishop of Providence, R.I., Richard Henning, right, as the two face reporters during a news conference, Monday, Aug. 5, 2024, in Braintree, Mass. Pope Francis on Monday accepted the resignation of O'Malley as archbishop of Boston and named Henning, the current bishop of Providence, to replace him as leader of one of the most important Catholic archdioceses in the United States.

Cardinal Sean O'Malley, left, and bishop of Providence, R.I., Richard Henning, right, face reporters during a news conference, Monday, Aug. 5, 2024, in Braintree, Mass. Pope Francis on Monday accepted the resignation of O'Malley as archbishop of Boston and named Henning, the current bishop of Providence, to replace him as leader of one of the most important Catholic archdioceses in the United States.

Cardinal Sean O'Malley, left, and bishop of Providence, R.I., Richard Henning, right, face reporters during a news conference, Monday, Aug. 5, 2024, in Braintree, Mass. Pope Francis on Monday accepted the resignation of O'Malley as archbishop of Boston and named Henning, the current bishop of Providence, to replace him as leader of one of the most important Catholic archdioceses in the United States.

Cardinal Sean O'Malley, left, and bishop of Providence, R.I., Richard Henning, right, arrive at a news conference, Monday, Aug. 5, 2024, in Braintree, Mass. Pope Francis on Monday accepted the resignation of O'Malley as archbishop of Boston and named Henning, the current bishop of Providence, to replace him as leader of one of the most important Catholic archdioceses in the United States.