Bishop Edward Kmiec, the 13th bishop of the Diocese of Buffalo died Saturday night following a brief illness.
The Diocese of Buffalo says that Kmiec had been in declining health over the past several months and that he died peacefully, just before midnight Saturday. He was 84 years old.
Kmiec became the bishop of the Diocese of Buffalo in 2004 and remained there until he resigned in 2012. He was then appointed to the position of Bishop Emeritus and has resided at the St. Joseph's Cathedral rectory in Buffalo.
Funeral plans will be announced at the earliest opportunity.
"We commend to our loving and merciful Lord the devoted soul of our brother, Bishop Edward Kmiec," Bishop Edward Scharfenberger, apostolic administrator for the dioeces. "He served long and faithfully the Church which he loved greatly as a priest and a bishop, and as one who's kindness, warm and pastroal spirit guided, comforted and revealed Christ to so many throughout his nearly 60 years of priesthood."