Washington D.C., May 2, 2005 / 22:00 pm
The archbishop of Washington, Theodore Cardinal McCarrick, told The Washington Times that he would like to retire after his 75th birthday and will submit his letter of resignation to the Vatican when he turns 75 in July.
Canon law requires bishops to submit their resignation when they turn 75, but it only comes into effect once the Pope has accepted it. Some bishops have remained in office several years past retirement age.
The native New Yorker has suffered health problems recently, including rotator cuff surgery about two months ago.
Cardinal McCarrick was one of 115 cardinals to elect Pope Benedict XVI, whom he described as “a very humble, kind, gentle person, a little shy with a great smile and sense of humor."