Venice Bishop Dewane dies after leading 260,000 Catholics

Bishop Frank J. Dewane, who led Florida’s Diocese of Venice for nearly two decades, died at age 76 on Oct. 7 at Sarasota Memorial Hospital after a brief illness, the diocese said. Appointed by Pope Benedict XVI in 2006, he became the diocese’s second bishop in 2007 and retired in 2026; Bishop Emilio Biosca Agüero succeeded him in July. During Dewane’s tenure, he ordained 34 priests and 28 permanent deacons, oversaw the creation of six parishes and two Catholic schools, and supported the construction of more than 450 affordable housing units. Funeral arrangements are pending.