Prague Archbishop Cardinal Miloslav Vlk will resign in the spring as his term expires, Vlk, who is 77, has confirmed.Two years ago, when he was 75, he tendered his resignation, as all Catholic bishops did under canonic law, to Pope Benedict XVI.
However, the Pope did not accept it and extended his mandate by another two years.
"It will be my duty to tender my resignation again. I will do this in May by a normal letter as I did two years ago. It will be up to the Pope to decide," said Vlk, who was born on May 17, 1932.
In January, Vlk told journalists he believed the Pope would accept his resignation before his visit to the Czech Republic, planned for the end of September.
"I do not think I will bother the Pope with the affair during his visit as it is a rather private thing," Vlk said.
Vlk's personal relations with the Pope are allegedly tense. When the Pope headed the Vatican Congregation for the Teaching of Belief as Joseph Ratzinger, his position on a number of issues was reportedly more rigid than that held by Vlk.
Vlk and Ratzinger clashed in the 1990s when Vlk tried to integrate in the church service the priests who had served in the underground structures under the Communist regime.
Vlk recently criticised the Pope for having cancelled the excommunication of British Bishop Richard Williamson, a Holocaust denier.
Daily Pravo writes today that Bohemian and Moravian bishops have earmarked three candidates who are to succeed Vlk.
Pravo writes Strahov Abbot Michael Pojezdny is one of the candidates. However, Olomouc Archbishop Jan Graubner, whose views are very close to Benedict XVI, is considered the most serious candidate for the post.
Plzen Bishop Frantisek Radkovsky has been suggested, too, but his health problems have probably frustrated his chances.
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(Source: GRCN)