YouTube Screengrab / Mobile Vocations
CV NEWS FEED // Archbishop Thomas Rodi of the Archdiocese of Mobile, Alabama, submitted his mandatory letter of resignation to Pope Francis this week, as he turned 75.
All Catholic bishops are required to submit a letter of resignation when they turn 75, but the Pope has the power to either refuse or accept it. Rodi turned 75 on March 27.
Rodi’s retirement now depends on the Vatican, but he will continue to serve as archbishop until an answer is received.
In a statement to local news outlet AL, the Archdiocese said that there is “no timetable as to when a successor will be appointed.”
“Thank you to the people of the Archdiocese of Mobile. I have been blessed and continue to be blessed by serving the people of this wonderful archdiocese,” Rodi said, according to AL. “The Holy Spirit works powerfully in this archdiocese and works through the people of the archdiocese. It is a privilege to serve as shepherd of this archdiocese to praise God, to serve neighbor and together to grow in faith.”
CatholicVote reported that the Vatican recently received another letter of resignation on March 19 from Cardinal Blase Cupich, the archbishop of Chicago. Cupich’s resignation is currently still pending.
