Bishop Pilla Writes Letter Of Resignation
Bishop Will Not Share Reason
CLEVELAND -- Cleveland's Catholic Diocese Bishop Anthony Pilla has written a letter to the Vatican asking to be replaced, NewsChannel5 reported.
Pilla, 73, will not disclose why he placed the request to retire. He said the reason is between him and the Vatican.
Usually, bishops are replaced when they are 75 years old, but can stay on in the post at the pope's request.
WEWS reported Pilla has suffered from a few health problems. He had a quadruple bypass in 1997 that was followed by an infection. He also had prostate cancer in 1999.
Pilla was asked if his health problems contributed to his decision to resign and he said he didn't want to get into that, and that he was doing what was best for the diocese.
On Friday, Pilla will celebrate his 25th anniversary as ninth bishop of Cleveland.
There are 800,000 Catholics in the Cleveland diocese.
There isn't an official timetable when a letter of resignation is submitted. Pilla said he is awaiting a response from Pope Benedict XVI and his staff.
He has spent the past few years dealing with the clergy sex-abuse scandal and coping with health problems. Pilla had a quadruple bypass operation in November 1997, then was diagnosed the next month with a life-threatening staph infection. He also had prostate surgery in fall 1999.
"Pilla was asked if his health problems contributed to his decision to resign and he said he didn't want to get into that, and that he was doing what was best for the diocese."
Hoping some other bishops will follow and do what is best for the souls in their diocese.