Archbishop William Lori’s Statement on the Death of Bishop Galeone

Bishop Victor Galeone, a former priest of the Archdiocese of Baltimore who served as the ninth bishop of the Diocese of St. Augustine, Fla., died May 29 at St. Martin’s Home for the Aged in Catonsville. He was 87. Baltimore Archbishop William E. Lori made the following statement:

“I was saddened to learn of the passing of Bishop Victor Galeone. He was a great priest and bishop. He was deeply loved and respected as a priest and pastor of the Archdiocese of Baltimore. He had a special love and regard for his fellow priests that is remembered to this day. Bishop Galeone went on to serve as Bishop of St. Augustine with single-hearted devotion and love, bringing together people of different cultures and languages with a pastor’s love and care. Whatever form his priestly ministry took, he was always deeply prayerful, spending time each day before the Blessed Sacrament and prayerfully reading Holy Scripture. This good servant of the Lord and the Church will be greatly missed. May he rest in the peace of Christ.”

Archbishop William E. Lori

Archbishop William E. Lori was installed as the 16th Archbishop of Baltimore May 16, 2012.

Prior to his appointment to Baltimore, Archbishop Lori served as Bishop of the Diocese of Bridgeport, Conn., from 2001 to 2012 and as Auxiliary Bishop of the Archdiocese of Washington from 1995 to 2001.

A native of Louisville, Ky., Archbishop Lori holds a bachelor's degree from the Seminary of St. Pius X in Erlanger, Ky., a master's degree from Mount St. Mary's Seminary in Emmitsburg and a doctorate in sacred theology from The Catholic University of America. He was ordained to the priesthood for the Archdiocese of Washington in 1977.

In addition to his responsibilities in the Archdiocese of Baltimore, Archbishop Lori serves as Supreme Chaplain of the Knights of Columbus and is the former chairman of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops' Ad Hoc Committee for Religious Liberty.