Bishop Gracida, critic of Pope Francis and staunch supporter of Latin Mass, dies at 102

(LifeSiteNews) — Bishop René Henri Gracida, who was one of the oldest prelates in the world, a staunch proponent of the Traditional Latin Mass (TLM), and critic of Pope Francis who claimed that he was not the valid pontiff, has died at age 102.

Gracida was born in New Orleans, Louisiana, on June 9, 1923, and served as a fighter pilot in the Second World War before being ordained to the priesthood on May 23, 1959, by His Excellency Hugh Louis Lamb. Gracida held numerous posts throughout his long career, most notably heading the Diocese of Corpus Christi from 1983 to 1997. He is believed to have been the oldest prelate in America, and the second oldest in the world at the time of his death.

He became a Benedictine monk in 1951, angering his father in so doing, and was ordained a priest in 1959.

Finding monastic life was not for him, he left in 1959 and was incardinated in the Archdiocese of Miami.

In 1971, he was appointed auxiliary bishop of Miami and was given his own diocese in 1975. In 1983, John Paul II appointed him as the diocesan bishop of Corpus Christi, Texas.

Gracida has been featured in numerous LifeSiteNews articles over the years, and previously joined John-Henry Westen for a special interview in which he reiterated his strong support for the unborn and the Traditional Latin Mass as well as his criticisms of Francis.