the US Conference of Catholic Bishops' peace pastoral, "The Harvest of Justice is Sown in Peace" (1993). Retirement Sullivan's resignation as bishop of the Diocese of Richmond was accepted on September 16, 2003, by Pope John Paul II. In 2012, despite being debilitated from inoperable liver cancer, Sullivan temporarily left the hospital for a prison visit. On the Sunday before he died, 400 serenaded him outside his house, singing his favorite hymn, "Sweet, Sweet Spirit." Walter Sullivan died on December 11, 2012, in Richmond at age 84. Viewpoints War In March 2003, Sullivan criticized the US invasion of Iraq. He said that he regretted "that our nation's leaders have determined that war is necessary to resolve our differences with Iraq." Capital punishment In 2004, Sullivan made this statement about the death penalty:"They send people to death because it is like a trophy to be exhibited: the more killed, the better it is. Elections are won this way in the United States." References 1928 births 2012 deaths Roman Catholic bishops of Richmond Deaths from liver cancer St. Mary's Seminary and University alumni Catholic University of America alumni 20th-century Roman Catholic bishops in the United States 21st-century Roman Catholic bishops in the United States