Rome Newsroom, Mar 28, 2023 / 04:55 am
Pope Francis on Tuesday accepted the resignation of Archbishop Michael J. Byrnes of Agaña, Guam.
Byrnes, 64, has led the Catholic Church on the U.S. island territory since the 2019 conviction of its former Archbishop Anthony S. Apuron for the sexual abuse of minors.
Pacific Daily News, a Guam-based news site, reported in December 2022 that Byrnes was on extended leave from his duties as archbishop for unspecified medical reasons.
Father Romeo Convocar, who has been overseeing the archdiocese in Byrnes’ absence, in December asked for continued prayers for the archbishop who “has always appreciated the kindness of the people.”