MOBILE, Ala. (AP) - The City of Mobile’s first archbishop died Wednesday at the age of 88.
The Archdiocese of Mobile, in a news release, announced the death of Archbishop Emeritus Oscar H. Lipscomb.
“He died peacefully this morning at the Little Sisters of the Poor residence in Mobile after a lengthy period of physical decline,” the archdiocese said.
Further details were not released, but the archdiocese said his death was not related to the novel coronavirus. Lipscomb was 88.
Lipscomb, a Mobile native, was ordained the city’s first archbishop in 1980 after the Vatican changed the diocese to an archdiocese. He retained the title until 2008 when is request to retire was granted. Archbishop Thomas J. Rodi succeeded him.
“Archbishop Lipscomb loved Mobile and its people,” Rodi said in a statement. “As a native of the city, he devoted his life to bringing God’s love to many. He made in indelible mark in our archdiocese as a man of God, a good priest and a good bishop.”
Due to the coronavirus pandemic, Lipscomb’s funeral will be private. A Mass of Christian burial will begin at 11 a.m. Tuesday, at the Cathedral-Basilica of the Immaculate Conception. Entombment will follow in the crypt at the Cathedral.
The Mass will be livestreamed at Facebook.com/TheCatholicWeek and aired on Archangel Radio 1410 AM/94.5 FM, the archdiocese said.
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