Archdiocese of Cincinnati, Ohio, Asks for Prayers as its Archbishop Dennis Schnurr begins Cancer Treatments

Archbishop Dennis Schnurr, head of the Archdiocese of Cincinnati, has been diagnosed with cancer. The archdiocese explained that the prelate is preparing for chemotherapy treatment this week. According to the Archdiocesan newspaper the archbishop “received a post-operation diagnosis of stage 3 small bowel cancer.”

“His doctor noted that, generally speaking, the archbishop’s health is excellent, and that is certainly a source of optimism for the success of the treatment,” the archdiocese said. “The treatment plan includes a regimen of chemotherapy over the next six months, preparation for which will begin this week,” the statement continued. “We ask all Catholics and people of goodwill to please keep Archbishop Schnurr in their prayers,” the archdiocese added.  Archbishop Schnurr was installed as the Cincinnati archbishop in 2009; previously he had served as the coadjutor archbishop there from 2008. Initially, he served as the bishop of the Diocese of Duluth, Minnesota, from 2001. Schnurr turned 75 in 2023, the mandatory age at which a bishop submits his resignation to Pope Francis. The archdiocese this week indicated that Schnurr’s retirement may not be imminent; the archbishop ​​“plans on continuing to work while receiving treatments,” the Wednesday statement said.