Vatican City, May 1, 2019 / 05:29 am
Pope Francis Wednesday accepted the resignation of Bishop Patrick J. McGrath of San Jose, California, who will be automatically succeeded by his coadjutor Bishop Oscar Cantú.
McGrath, 73, was bishop of San Jose for nearly 20 years, and before that was coadjutor bishop of the diocese for an additional one year.
Citing the wish to let a younger man become bishop, McGrath last year asked the Holy See permission to retire before turning 75, which is when bishops are required by canon law to submit letters of resignation for consideration by the pope.
McGrath was hospitalized last November after a serious fall, which caused a "slight fracture of a disc in his back," according to a diocesan spokesperson.