The Most Rev.
Robert J. Cunningham focused on the theme of unity within the church Tuesday afternoon during his installation as the 10th bishop of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Syracuse. About 1,000 people flocked to the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception to see the ceremony and hear Cunningham’s Mass. As many attending clutched cameras and stretched their arms over their heads to capture photographs of Cunningham, he reminded the diocese’s parishioners that the day was really about them. “The church takes place at the parish level,” Cunningham said in his remarks at the Mass. “I look forward to being with you.” The event blocked off city streets surrounding the cathedral and called for crowd control from Syracuse police. The guests included more than 250 priests and 24 bishops, including Archbishop Timothy Dolan of New York and Archbishop Pietro Sambi, a representative of the Vatican. Cunningham, 65, has served as a priest in the Buffalo area for 35 years and has been bishop of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Ogdensburg since March 2004. He succeeded Bishop James Moynihan, who retired after leading the Syracuse Diocese, which which serves Oneida County, since May 1995. Moynihan submitted his resignation as required by church law when he turned 75 in July 2007. Cunningham was appointed to the position by Pope Benedict XVI on Tuesday, April 21.
During the Mass, Cunningham stressed the need for more charity work. He also said he hoped for “peace and prosperity” for the church and would work to continue its “defense of the right to life.”