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Bishop Emeritus Frank Dewane Dies at 76
Confirmed
In Short: Bishop Emeritus Frank Dewane, who led the Diocese of Venice in Florida for nearly 20 years, died at 76.
Bishop Emeritus Frank Dewane, who led the Diocese of Venice in Florida for nearly two decades, died at 76 on Oct. 12, 2026, at Sarasota Memorial Hospital.
Dewane, born in Green Bay, Wisconsin, on March 9, 1950, was ordained a priest in the Green Bay Diocese on July 16, 1988.
He was named a coadjutor bishop of the Venice Diocese in 2006 by Pope Benedict XVI and installed as bishop there on Jan. 1, 2007.
Dewane retired on May 13, 2026, after nearly 20 years of service, and served as the Diocese’s Apostolic Administrator until July 11, 2026.
He was a spiritual leader for approximately 260,000 Catholics in the 10-county Diocese of Venice, known for his advocacy for social justice and his pastoral care for the marginalized.
Dewane spoke out against the proposed detention facility in the Everglades meant to house immigrants in the country illegally, describing the rhetoric of U.S. federal officials as 'corrosive.'
He served on several committees of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops, including the Pro-Life Committee, the International Justice and Peace Committee, and the Subcommittee for the Pastoral Care of Migrants, Refugees, and Travelers.
Dewane also served as a member of the Circus and Traveling Shows Ministry and was a member of the Permanent Observer Mission of the Holy See to the United Nations in New York.
He completed studies at The American University in Washington, D.C., and from Pontifical Gregorian University and Pontifical University of St. Thomas Aquinas in Rome.
Bishop Dewane was known for his dedication to the Church and his community, as evidenced by his involvement in various charitable and pastoral activities.
Current Bishop Emilio Biosca Agüero, OFM Cap, announced Dewane's passing, stating, 'It is with profound sadness, yet with faith in the promise of the Resurrection, that I announce the passing of the Most Reverend Frank J. Dewane, Bishop Emeritus of the Diocese of Venice in Florida.'
Funeral arrangements are pending and will be made available as soon as they are finalized.
What this adds
The news of Dewane's death was confirmed by multiple sources, including EWTN News and WGCU.
What's confirmed
- “It is with profound sadness, yet with faith in the promise of the Resurrection, that I announce the passing of the Most Reverend Frank J. Dewane, Bishop Emeritus of the Diocese of Venice in Florida,” Agüero said.
- Dewane died at 3 a.m. at Sarasota Memorial Hospital “surrounded by close family and friends,” the prelate said.
- Bishop Emeritus Frank Dewane, who led the Diocese of Venice in Florida for nearly two decades until his retirement earlier this year, died on Oct.
What's still developing
- “Decency requires that we remember individuals being detained are fathers and mothers, brothers and sisters of distressed relatives,” the bishop said at the time.
- His death was confirmed in a news release by current Bishop Emilio Biosca Agüero, OFM Cap, who was appointed to that role in May.
- His years as a priest and bishop were marked by a sincere love for Christ, His Church, and the people entrusted to his pastoral care, especially those most in need.
- Workers upgrade Epiphany Cathedral in Venice on Wednesday, a project started by former Bishop Frank Dewane, who died early Wednesday in Sarasota.
- Dewane, right, blesses a Homeless Jesus statue outside of Epiphany Cathedral in 2018.
- Dewane during an ordination mass in 2022 at Epiphany Cathedral.
- Christian Chami, David Portorreal and Michael Young lie in front of Bishop Frank J.