John Ricard

John Huston Ricard (February 29, 1940 – May 20, 2026) was an American Catholic prelate who served as superior general of the Society of St. Joseph of the Sacred Heart from 2019 until his death in 2026. He previously served as Bishop of Pensacola-Tallahassee from 1997 to 2011, and as an auxiliary bishop for the Archdiocese of Baltimore from 1984 to 1997.

Biography

Early life and education Born on February 29, 1940, in New Roads, Louisiana, Ricard was of Creole descent. Ricard is a cousin of Archbishop Shelton Fabre of Louisville. After graduating from Xavier University Preparatory School in New Orleans in 1958, he joined the Josephites, entering the Mary Immaculate Novitiate in Walden, New York. Ricard then attended Epiphany Apostolic College in Newburgh, New York. He completed his theological studies at St. Joseph's Seminary in Washington, D.C.

Priestly ministry On May 25, 1968. Ricard was ordained to the priesthood by Bishop Robert Tracy for the Josephites. After his ordination, the Josephites assigned Ricard as an associate pastor at St. Peter Claver Parish in New Orleans. In 1970, he earned a master's degree from Tulane University in New Orleans.

Committees During his time as bishop, Ricard served as chair of Catholic Relief Services from 1995 to 2002, as a member of Pontifical Council Cor Unum in Rome, and as chair of the USCCB's Committee on Social Development and World Peace from 1992 to 1995. He was also a member of the USCCB's Secretariat of Black Catholics.

Health and retirement On December 22, 2009, Ricard suffered a stroke and was treated at Ascension Sacred Heart Hospital of Pensacola.

Ricard tendered his letter of resignation as bishop of Pensacola-Tallahassee to Pope Benedict XVI in February 2011, citing poor health. The pope accepted Ricard's resignation on March 11, 2011. On November 24, 2021, Ricard issued a statement with Archbishop Wilton Gregory calling for justice following the 2020 murder of Ahmaud Arbery by three men in a suburb of Brunswick, Georgia. Ricard was reelected as superior general of the Josephites in 2023.

Death Ricard died in Washington, DC, on May 20, 2026, at the age of 86.