A communique issued by the Secretary-General Missionary Of Africa, Father André-Léon Simonart, said the 63-year-old Cardinal died on Sunday, November 27, after he was rushed to the Hospital.

“Our confrere was taken by ambulance from the Generalate to the Gemelli Hospital at 5.45 pm and we received the sad news at 6.25 pm. May Richard rest in the peace of his Lord whom he so generously served,” parts of the statement read.

He was the former Bishop of the Catholic Diocese of Wa and was later named Cardinal in May by Pope Francis I.