René Henry Gracida

René Henry Gracida (born June 9, 1923) is an American Roman Catholic prelate. He was the Bishop of Corpus Christi from 1983 to 1997. He was also the Bishop of Pensacola-Tallahassee from 1975 to 1983. Gracida was an auxiliary bishop of the Archdiocese of Miami from 1971 to 1975.

Catholic prelate career
Gracida became a priest for the Order of St. Benedict on May 23, 1959.

On December 6, 1971, Gracida was made by Pope Paul VI as auxiliary bishop of Miami and titular bishop of Masuccaba. On May 19, 1983 Pope John Paul II appointed Gracida as the bishop of Corpus Christi. He took office on July 11, 1983.

In January 1989, Gracida called for a boycott of all Pepsi-Cola products because of one of their commercials used the song "Like a Prayer" by the singer Madonna. Gracida and other religious leaders saw as sacrilegious. Pepsi eventually stopped showing the ads and canceled its contract with Madonna.

During his time as Bishop of Corpus Christi, many priests were accused of sexual abuse of minors. Pope John Paul II accepted Gracida's resignation on April 1, 1997.

Personal life
Gracida was born in New Orleans, Louisiana. During World War II, Gracida flew 32 missions in the US Army Air Corps. He studied at the University of Houston.

Gracida turned 100 on June 9, 2023.

References

Other websites

"Abyssus Abyssum Invocat: Commentary on all things Catholic, Roman, that is!" (blog maintained by Bishop Gracida)
Roman Catholic Diocese of Corpus Christi
Roman Catholic Diocese of Pensacola–Tallahassee
Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Miami

Category:1923 births
Category:Living people
Category:American Roman Catholic bishops
Category:American military personnel of World War II
Category:People from Corpus Christi, Texas
Category:People from Pensacola, Florida
Category:People from Tallahassee, Florida
Category:People from Miami
Category:People from New Orleans
Category:American centenarians