(Vatican Radio) On Monday it was announced that Pope Benedict XVI accepted the resignation
from pastoral governance of the Archdiocese of St Andrews and Edinburg, Scotland,
of H.E Cardinal Keith Michael Patrick O'Brien on February 18th, in accordance with
canon 401 § 1 code of Canon Law.
Below please find a statement regarding the
Cardinal's resignation from the website of the Scottish Catholic Media Office:
The
Holy Father Pope Benedict XVI has accepted on the 18 February 2013 the resignation
of His Eminence Cardinal Keith Patrick O’Brien from the pastoral governance of the
Archdiocese of Saint Andrews and Edinburgh. This information will be announced and
published in the Osservatore Romano of Monday 25 February 2013.
The Cardinal
had already presented last November his resignation in view of his 75th birthday on
17 March 2013, and it was accepted by the Holy Father with the formula 'nunc pro tunc'
(now for later). Given the imminent Vacant See, the Holy Father has now decided to
accept the said resignation definitively.
Reacting to the acceptance of his
resignation, Cardinal O'Brien said;
"Approaching the age of seventy-five and
at times in indifferent health, I tendered my resignation as Archbishop of Saint Andrews
and Edinburgh to Pope Benedict XVI some months ago. I was happy to know that he accepted
my resignation ‘nunc pro tunc’ – (now – but to take effect later) on 13 November 2012.
The Holy Father has now decided that my resignation will take effect today, 25 February
2013, and that he will appoint an Apostolic Administrator to govern the Archdiocese
in my place until my successor as Archbishop is appointed. In the meantime I will
give every assistance to the Apostolic Administrator and to our new Archbishop, once
he is appointed, as I prepare to move into retirement.
I have valued the opportunity
of serving the people of Scotland and overseas in various ways since becoming a priest.
Looking back over my years of ministry: For any good I have been able to do, I thank
God. For any failures, I apologise to all whom I have offended
I thank Pope
Benedict XVI for his kindness and courtesy to me and on my own behalf and on behalf
of the people of Scotland, I wish him a long and happy retirement. I also ask God’s
blessing on my brother Cardinals who will soon gather in Rome to elect his successor.
I will not join them for this Conclave in person. I do not wish media attention in
Rome to be focussed on me – but rather on Pope Benedict XVI and on his Successor.
However, I will pray with them and for them that, enlightened by the Holy Spirit,
they will make the correct choice for the future good of the Church.
May God
who has blessed me so often in my ministry continue to bless and help me in the years
which remain for me on earth and may he shower his blessings on all the peoples of
Scotland especially those I was privileged to serve in a special way in the Archdiocese
of Saint Andrews and Edinburgh."