Our Bishops

The Most Reverend Richard Gerard Lennon,
Bishop of Cleveland

The Most Rev. Richard Gerard Lennon was installed as the 10th Bishop of the Catholic Diocese of Cleveland, Ohio on May 15, 2006.  His Holiness Pope Benedict XVI named Bishop Lennon to the leadership position over nearly 800,000 Catholics in eight counties of Northeast Ohio on April 4, 2006.

            A native of the Boston area, Bishop Lennon was born in Arlington, Massachusetts and graduated from Catholic High School and then attended Boston College before entering St. John’s Seminary in Brighton, Massachusetts where he received an M.A. in Church History and a M.TH in Sacramental Theology. 

            Bishop Lennon was ordained to the priesthood in May, 1973 and served in  the Archdiocese of Boston as a parish priest, Fire Department Chaplain, an Assistant for Canonical Affairs, and Rector of St. John’s Seminary. 

            Ordained as an Auxiliary Bishop in the Archdiocese of Boston on September 14, 2001, Bishop Lennon also was called upon to serve as Apostolic Administrator for the Archdiocese from December of 2002 to July of 2003 when the Vatican appointed a new Archbishop to lead in Boston. 

            Among the special recognitions Bishop Lennon has received; he was named a Domestic Prelate in April of 1998, installed as a Knight of Malta and as a Knight of the Holy Sepulchre in June of 2001.
Contact Bishop Lennon: (216) 696-6525 Ext. 2030

The Most Reverend Anthony M. Pilla Bishop Emeritus, Diocese of Cleveland Anthony M. Pilla was born in Cleveland and was ordained to the priesthood on May 23, 1959.  Pope John Paul II announced his choice of Father Pilla as Auxiliary Bishop of Cleveland on June 30, 1979.  On November 18, 1980, he was named the Ninth Bishop of Cleveland and was installed on January 6, 1981.. For three years, Bishop Pilla served as Vice-President of the National Conference of Catholic Bishops and was elected President in November 1995, completing his term in November 1998. Beyond his religious background and extensive work with the Catholic Church, Bishop Pilla serves on the Boards, committees and advisory panels of many community organizations.

Auxiliary Bishops

The Most Reverend Roger W. Gries, O.S.B., M.Ed., V.G. Ordained May 18, 1963 Appointed Titular Bishop of Presidio and Auxiliary Bishop of Cleveland April 3, 2001 Consecrated June 7, 2001

The Most Reverend A. Edward Pevec, Ph.D., V.G. (Retired) Ordained April 29, 1950 Appointed Titular Bishop of Mercia and Auxiliary Bishop of Cleveland April 13, 1982 Consecrated July 2, 1982