Mandatory resignation accepted for Bishop Frank J. Dewane; Capuchin Franciscan priest named as new Prelate
By Bob Reddy – Florida Catholic
On May 13, 2026, Pope Leo XIV accepted the resignation of Bishop Frank J. Dewane of Venice, and appointed Bishop-elect Emilio Biosca Agüero, OFM Cap., as Bishop-elect of Venice, a priest of the Archdiocese of Washington, and native of Colorado Springs, Colorado, as the new shepherd of the 10-county Southwest Florida Diocese.
The announcement was made by Pope Leo early in the morning on May 13, the Feast of Our Lady of Fatima, and announced by Bishop Emeritus Frank J. Dewane at a press conference later that morning.
Bishop Dewane introduced the Bishop-elect Biosca, a member of the Capuchin Franciscan Friars of the Province of Saint Augustine in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, who since 2018 has served as Pastor of the Shrine of the Sacred Heart in Washington, D.C. He was ordained to the priesthood on May 21, 1994, for the Capuchin Franciscan Province of St. Augustine. He also served as a missionary in Papua New Guinea and later in Cuba. (See full bio on Page 2.)
“In accord with canon law, I submitted my resignation to the Pope over a year ago on my seventy-fifth birthday, and, with the appointment of Bishop-elect Agüero, it is now formally accepted,” Bishop Dewane said. “As of today, I am officially the Bishop Emeritus of the Diocese of Venice in Florida and have been appointed its Apostolic Administrator until the day of Bishop-elect Agüero’s ordination which will take place on July 11, 2026.”
After being formally introduced by Bishop Dewane, Bishop-elect Biosca said having heard from Cardinal Christophe Pierre, Apostolic Nuncio Emeritus to the United States, he accepted the appointment with trust in the Divine Providence of God. He also expressed his heartfelt gratitude to the Holy Father, Pope Leo, for “his prayerful support and for the confidence he has placed in me through this appointment. Mindful of the weight of this responsibility, I entrust myself to Our Lady of Mercy and to St. Mark, co-patrons of this youthful and thriving Diocese of Venice.”
“I am thrilled to be here and filled with joy to begin this new chapter together in faith and charity. I am also eager to join you in the great task of evangelization, growing together in our knowledge of Christ and sharing the profound hope of the Gospel,” Bishop-elect Biosca said.
“I wish to express my sincere gratitude to Bishop Dewane, who has faithfully shepherded this local Church for 20 years. His pastoral charity, generous heart, and warm welcome have already been a great gift to me. I look forward to continuing to seek his guidance as I begin this ministry.”
Bishop-elect Biosca also thanked his Capuchin Provincial Minister, Father Robert Marva, the members of the Provincial Council, and his Capuchin brothers for their fraternal and prayerful support throughout his life. He then thanked Cardinal Robert W. McElroy, of the Archdiocese of Washington, and Bishop Juan Esposito-Garcia, Auxiliary Bishop of the Archdiocese, for their support during the past days in preparation for this announcement.
Bishop-elect Biosca then shared words from the “Saving of Light and Love,” (#73) of St. John the Cross, which has accompanied him throughout his life: “What does it profit you to give God one thing, if He ask of you another? Consider what – it is – God wants, and then do it. You will as a result better satisfy your heart than, with that, toward which you yourself are inclined.”
“I look forward to entering into the life of this local Church: to know its people, to understand its history, to appreciate its customs and traditions, and to learn the events that have shaped the spiritual character of this region,” Bishop-elect Biosca added. “I hope to discover not only the history written in books and archives, but also the living history preserved in families, parishes, neighborhoods, and their witness to Christ.”
To the priests of the Diocese, who Bishop-elect Biosca said were going to be his principal and closest collaborators, he offered his fraternal greeting and deep respect. He expects to meet with the priests in small groups and individually, praying together, listening to them, and serving with them. Bishop-elect Biosca offered the same greeting to the men and women religious of the Diocese, thanking them for the witness of their consecrated lives and hopes to meet with them and support their evangelical form of life in the Church. In addition, Bishop-elect Biosca extended his gratitude to the lay leaders of the Diocese and of the Parishes, whose fidelity and generous service prove indispensable to the mission and structure of the Church. “Their witness in marriage and extended family reveals the vitality of the Gospel lived in daily life.”
Bishop-elect Biosca also offered comments in Spanish and concluded by saying, “I ask for your prayers, that I may serve faithfully and joyfully as a shepherd after the Heart of Christ for the Good Shepherd. God Bless you!”
Earlier in the day, Bishop Dewane introduced the new shepherd Bishop-elect Biosca to the staff of the Diocesan Catholic Center who were waiting for him at the entrance. After a few comments from both Bishop and Bishop-elect, the staff applauded their greetings, with many offering personal well-wishes. A short time later Bishop Dewane and Bishop-elect Biosca concelebrated the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass for the Diocesan staff in the Catholic Center Chapel. Father John Belmonte, SJ, Diocesan Superintendent of Catholic Education, concelebrated.
A press conference in the Catholic Center main conference room took place, where both Bishop-elect Biosca and Bishop Dewane fielded questions. In addition to the media, also present were Diocesan priests and religious, as well as select invited lay leaders.
Bishop Dewane came to serve the Diocese of Venice in 2006, after serving as Under Secretary of the Pontifical Council for Justice and Peace where he served as a delegate of the Holy See to numerous international conferences and world summits, presenting the position of the Church, allowing for pastoral encounters with people throughout the world. As Bishop Dewane transitions to retirement, he said he looks forward to spending more time in prayer, study and travel.
“It has been a great joy for me to have ministered here for the past 20 years,” Bishop Dewane said. “I am pleased and very proud of the Catholic Community of the Diocese, who they are and who they are becoming, by their witness to Christ. This has become possible by the great pastoral care and service that the priests, both Diocesan and Religious, have provided. As I retire, it is my plan to remain in the Diocese of Venice, which has become my home as it has for so many others from the Midwest. To the Priests, Deacons, and joy-filled laity, thank you all for being a wonderful family of faith, hope, and love. I look forward to my continued home here assisting the new Bishop pastorally, in any manner I can.”
