PENSACOLA, Fla. — The Diocese of Pensacola-Tallahassee announced the passing of Bishop John H. Ricard.
Bishop Ricard died at the age of 86 in Washington, D.C. on Wednesday. He was the fourth bishop of Diocese of Pensacola-Tallahassee.
Bishop William A. Wack shared the following statement:
As the longest tenured bishop for our diocese and my predecessor I looked to him as a mentor and brother who was always available to give me advice and support. I am deeply grateful for his leadership and vision which has set us on a firm foundation as a local church.
Pope St. John Paul II named Ricard as bishop of the Diocese of Pensacola-Tallahassee in January 1997. He was installed on March 13, 1997 at the Cathedral of the Sacred Heart.
Bishop Ricard was also instrumental in relaunching the National Black Catholic Congress in 1987. He served as its president until 2019. He was a consultant to the USCCB Ad-Hoc Committee Against Racism (2019-2025).
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Funeral arrangements are not set in stone for Bishop Ricard as of yet. But he’ll be laid to rest at St. Michael’s Cemetery in Pensacola.