Bishop Loras Joseph Watters

WINONA, Minn. - Bishop Loras Joseph Watters, who led the Roman Catholic Diocese of Winona from 1969-1987, has died. He was 93.

The diocese said Watters died peacefully early Monday. No cause of death was given.

Watters was ordained in 1941. He became auxiliary bishop of Dubuque, Iowa, in 1965. Four years later, he was named by Pope Paul VI as the fifth bishop of Winona. Bishop John Vlazny replaced Watters when Watters retired in 1987.

The Diocese of Winona covers the bottom ties of 20 counties across southern Minnesota.

Crookston Bishop Michael Hoeppner, a Winona native, recalled listening to Watters preach back when Hoeppner was still a high school student.

"He was our bishop after Vatican II," Hoeppner said. He helped us get with what the council taught and, as an educator, he relished that role."

Watters led the diocese into celebrating Mass in English rather than Latin.

Funeral arrangements were pending.