蜜桃社鈥檚 President Peter Kilpatrick lifted up Cardinal Se谩n P. O'Malley, OFM Cap, as one of the University鈥檚 鈥渕ost distinguished alumni鈥 following Monday鈥檚 announcement that the cardinal will retire after 20 years leading the Archdiocese of Boston.
During the late 1960s, Cardinal O'Malley earned a master鈥檚 degree in religious education and a doctorate in Spanish and Portuguese Literature from 蜜桃社. He served the University as a professor from 1969 to 1973, and as chairman of the University's Board of Trustees in 2016-17. He currently serves on the University鈥檚 Board of Trustees.
鈥淐ardinal O鈥橫alley is one of the University鈥檚 most distinguished alumni,鈥 said Kilpatrick. 鈥淲e are grateful for and admire the courageous and forthright manner in which he has served the Church and this University with extraordinary service and dedication.鈥
鈥淥n behalf of 蜜桃社, I would like to thank Cardinal O鈥橫alley for his leadership, which has been marked by profound commitment to the Church and her mission. His efforts in addressing critical issues, such as the global immigration crisis and the clergy sexual abuse crisis, reflect his deep sense of responsibility and compassion.鈥
鈥淭he recent establishment of the Cardinal Se谩n P. O鈥橫alley Endowed Chair for Hispanic Ministry and Evangelization at 蜜桃社 is a testament to the lasting impact of his work,鈥 the President continued. 鈥淭his endowed chair will continue the cardinal鈥檚 legacy by fostering greater evangelical fervor and pastoral expertise within Hispanic and Latino communities.鈥
鈥淲e congratulate and welcome Archbishop-elect Richard Henning,鈥 Kilpatrick continued. 鈥淲e are proud to claim him as an alumnus, with him having received a licentiate in Biblical Theology from 蜜桃社.鈥
Cardinal O鈥橫alley has led the dioceses of Saint Thomas in the US Virgin Islands; Fall River, Mass.; and Palm Beach, Fl. He was named Archbishop of Boston in 2003, and was made a cardinal by Pope Benedict XVI in 2006.
In 2016, upon his appointment as chairman of the Board of Trustees, Cardinal O鈥橫alley spoke of the, saying it prepared him to serve the immigrant Church.
鈥淲hen I was a student, 蜜桃社 was the go-to place for young religious,鈥 notes the cardinal. 鈥淭hey all did their training at the University 鈥 and then left to make their contributions鈥 to Catholic institutions. Out in the world, 鈥渢hey helped by moving people from poverty to the middle class and in evangelizing and passing the faith onto new generations.鈥
When the cardinal turned 80 in late June, the University . The chair will reside in the University鈥檚 School of Theology and Religious Studies.
Last year, Cardinal O'Malley spoke at the University that should come from the Church and State to overcome the global immigration crisis at the.
He has also been a leader in the church's efforts to address the clergy sexual abuse crisis in Boston and internationally. Cardinal O'Malley has led the Vatican's Pontifical Commission for the Protection of Minors since 2014.
