Opinion

Pope Francis prepared resignation letter in case of impairment

cns@catholicnews.com (Cindy Wooden, Catholic News Service) — Mon, 19 Dec 2022 09:10:33 -0500

Pope Francis said he wrote a resignation letter in 2013, his first year in office, to be used in case he became physically or mentally impaired and unable to fulfill the duties of the papacy.

Resignation of Belarusian archbishop accepted immediately by Pope Francis

Mon, 04 Jan 2021 09:05:57 -0500

VATICAN CITY -- Pope Francis accepted the resignation of Archbishop Tadeusz Kondrusiewicz of Minsk, Belarus, who had been blocked from entering his homeland for four months until negotiations between the Vatican and the Belarusian authorities allowed him back in time for Christmas.

Polish bishop resigns following accusations of failing to act on abuse

Mon, 19 Oct 2020 10:39:17 -0400

VATICAN CITY -- Pope Francis accepted the resignation of a Polish bishop accused of negligence after a documentary claimed he repeatedly transferred a priest accused of sexually abusing children.

Cardinal Becciu resigns as prefect, renounces rights as cardinal

cns@catholicnews.com (Cindy Wooden, Catholic News Service) — Fri, 25 Sep 2020 09:40:52 -0400

VATICAN CITY -- In a move apparently related to Vatican financial scandals, Pope Francis accepted Cardinal Angelo Becciu's resignation as prefect of the Congregation for Saints' Causes and his renunciation of the rights associated with being a cardinal, the Vatican announced late Sept. 24.

Early resignation of Bishop Malone accepted by Pope Francis

cns@catholicregister.org (Catholic News Service) — Tue, 03 Dec 2019 15:04:47 -0500

BUFFALO, N.Y. -- Buffalo Bishop Richard J. Malone told Catholics Dec. 4 he asked Pope Francis to allow him to retire early so the people of the diocese "will be better served" by a new bishop who is "perhaps better able" to bring about "reconciliation, healing and renewal" in addressing the abuse crisis.

Bolivian bishops say Morales' resignation was not a coup

Tue, 12 Nov 2019 08:35:38 -0500

MEXICO CITY -- Bolivia's bishops called for calm after the country's president resigned suddenly in the face of swelling street protests over accusations of electoral fraud. They also insisted the departure of President Evo Morales "is not a coup," even though the military had urged him to step aside.

'No to resignation. Everything can change', Pope says as he denounced mafia mentality

cns@catholicregister.org (Catholic News Service) — Mon, 17 Sep 2018 08:00:05 -0400

PALERMO, Sicily – Honouring a priest shot at point-blank range by the Mafia, Pope Francis insisted that true happiness and a real change in Sicilian society will come only when people love and care for one another rather than trying to grab as much money and power as they can.

Pope accepts resignation of West Virginia bishop accused of sexual harassment

cns@catholicregister.org (Catholic News Service) — Thu, 13 Sep 2018 09:17:41 -0400

WASHINGTON – Pope Francis has accepted the resignation of Bishop Michael J. Bransfield of Wheeling-Charleston, West Virginia, and has instructed Archbishop William E. Lori of Baltimore to conduct an investigation into allegations that Bishop Bransfield sexually harassed adults.

Pope updates resignation norms for bishops, prelates in Roman Curia

cns@catholicregister.org (Catholic News Service) — Thu, 15 Feb 2018 13:06:14 -0500

VATICAN – Updating the norms and regulations governing the resignation of bishops and of Roman Curia department heads who are not cardinals, Pope Francis said they will continue to hold office until he accepts their resignations.

Vatican, former Vatican auditor give differing accounts of resignation

cns@catholicnews.com (Cindy Wooden, Catholic News Service) — Mon, 25 Sep 2017 10:35:29 -0400

VATICAN CITY – The first person to serve as the Vatican's independent auditor said he was forced to resign after opponents of Pope Francis' financial reforms mounted a campaign against him.