ROME: Pope Francis accepted the resignation of Cardinal Robert Sarah as head of the Vatican’s liturgical office, removing a conservative frank and possible future pope from the ranks of the Vatican leadership.
The Holy See’s press office announced Saturday that Cardinal Sarah had resigned. No successor has been named.
The cardinal submitted his resignation as required by church law when he turned 75 on June 15 last year. But the pope often allows cardinals to serve two or three years after that age, even if they are not over 80 years old.
By accepting the resignation of Cardinal Sarah, the pope has removed a subordinate from his focus on the liturgy, homosexuality and relations with the Muslim world. The cardinal is a hero to many conservative Catholics, some of whom see him as a future pontiff. He will still be able to vote in a conclave to elect a pope up to the age of 80.
Last year, the cardinal sparked controversy with a book widely interpreted as an attempt to influence Pope Francis’ decision on whether to allow married men to be ordained priests. The episode caused embarrassment for the cardinal when Pope Benedict XVI, retired, asked that his name be co-author of the book.