SALT LAKE CITY, Utah, May 2, 2017 (Gephardt Daily) — The Catholic Diocese of Utah announced Tuesday that its former bishop, George H. Niederauer, has passed away in a California nursing home.
Niederauer, 80, died peacefully earlier on Tuesday, the statement said, adding that funeral arrangements are pending. Niederauer will be buried in the San Francisco Cathedral, where he served as Archbishop, according to the statement on the Diocese of Utah website.
“Please remember him in your prayers,” the statement requests.
Niederauer served as bishop of the Catholic Diocese of Utah from 1995 to 2005 before his reassignment to San Francisco as an archbishop. Niederauer retired for medical reasons in 2012.
After a long vacancy in Utah, Pope Francis called Bishop Oscar Azarcon Solis in January to fill the position in Utah.
Utah Gov. Gary Herbert issued a statement regarding Niederauer’s death:
“The passing of his excellency Bishop George H. Niederauer will be felt by many in the state of Utah,” Herbert’s statement reads.
“As the eighth bishop of the Salt Lake City Diocese, Bishop Niederauer made an indelible mark on our community through his spiritual leadership. His 10 years of service here were marked with great collaboration in the faith community. His loss is felt deeply.”
