WASHINGTON (OSV News) — Pope Leo XIV has accepted the resignation of Bishop Edward B. Scharfenberger, 77, from the pastoral governance of the Diocese of Albany, New York, and has appointed Auxiliary Bishop Mark W. O’Connell of Boston as his successor.

The resignation and appointment were announced by Cardinal Christophe Pierre, apostolic nuncio to the U.S., in Washington October 20.

“I have had the blessing over the last year to work with Bishop Mark O’Connell,” Boston Archbishop Richard G. Henning said. “He is a remarkably capable man and very humble. He loves people and he loves the priests of our Archdiocese.”

Archbishop Henning said that Bishop O’Connell has “served Boston joyfully and effectively for decades. While we are sorry to lose him here in Boston we rejoice with the clergy, religious, and lay faithful of the Diocese of Albany. We are sending you our best and wishing you and your new bishop every blessing!”

“Along with the clergy, religious, and faithful of the Diocese of Albany, I rejoice in the appointment of Bishop Mark O’Connell as the eleventh Bishop of Albany and warmly welcome him to the Province of New York,” said Cardinal Timothy Dolan, Archbishop of New York. “I look forward to working with him on behalf of God’s people here in the Empire State.”

The cardinal added, “At the same time, I express my deep and sincere gratitude for the 12 years of faithful service of Bishop Edward Scharfenberger as Bishop of Albany. Bishop Ed has been a wise and trusted colleague, and I am confident that even as he relinquishes his administrative duties, he will continue his priestly and apostolic ministry. May he enjoy a long and fruitful retirement.”

Bishop O’Connell was ordained a priest of the Archdiocese of Boston in 1990 and served in parish, seminary and tribunal roles before being named an auxiliary bishop of Boston June 3, 2016. He was ordained a bishop on August 24 of that year. He chose the Latin “Invenimus Messiam,” or “We found a Messiah” as his episcopal motto.