Dr O’Reilly becomes second prelate to retire soon. The bishop of Ardagh and Clonmacnois, Dr Colm O'Reilly, is set to become the second member of the Church hierarchy to step down early next year.
Bishop O'Reilly has confirmed that, along with his Killaloe counterpart, Bishop Willie Walsh, he will be 75 next January and in accordance with official Church policy, will tender his resignation to the Vatican over the coming months.
But the bishop said that he may well have to stay on in his position into 2010 as, while bishops must formally submit their intentions to retire when they reach 75, it is not automatic that his resignation will be accepted immediately.
“In most cases it actually isn't but it is something that is out of my hands and whether the Pope accepts it or not," said Dr O’Reilly.
Bishop Walsh, who disclosed recently that he too will be stepping down shortly, also said he expected to have to remain as bishop for some months after his 75th birthday while the process of replacing him kicks in.
The Catholic Communications Office explained that the final decision on when a bishop relinquishes his post rests solely with the Vatican.
"Under Church law when a bishop reaches his 75th birthday, the bishop submits his resignation as bishop of the diocese to the Holy Father,” the CCO said in a statement.
“It is entirely in the hands of the Holy Father as to when he accepts the Bishop's resignation and when that time comes, the Pope announces the name of the bishop's successor,” the statement continued. The retiring bishop will continue to remain a bishop for the remainder of his life," it added.
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