July 12, 2005, 8:11PM
Bishop Delaney, leader of Fort Worth diocese, diesAssociated Press
FORT WORTH ?Bishop Joseph Delaney, leader of more than 400,000 Catholics in the Fort Worth Roman Catholic Diocese, has died at age 70.
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Delaney, who has been bishop of the north central Texas diocese since 1981, was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer in 2003, but had said the cancer was in remission.
"He was good to his people, good to his priests, good to his staff," Wilson told the Fort Worth Star-Telegram for its online edition today.
Delaney's housekeeper discovered his body this morning, Wilson said.
Monsignor Kevin Vann, named by the Vatican in May as coadjutor bishop to succeed Delaney upon his death or retirement, had been scheduled to be installed Wednesday. The ordination will be held as planned, but Vann will now be ordained as bishop, Wilson said.
"I think I learned from him how to take it easy, how to be calm, how to really listen and consult and have confidence in the Holy Spirit and the power of God," Vann said today.
Bishop Charles V. Grahmann of the Dallas diocese called Delaney a "very perceptive person, open always to new ways of ministry. Lay ministry and preparation for that ministry were important to him."
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