A dozen diocesan bishops will turn 75 this year, requiring them to submit resignations to the Pope. Among them are Cardinal Maida of Detroit and Cardinal McCarrick of Washington. That doesn’t mean they will definitely be retiring. Pope John Paul has had a habit in recent years of leaving men in office well after their official retirement date. Cardinal Bevilacqua didn’t actually get a replacement until he turned 80.
Ed Peter keeps an up-to-date list of bishops, their ages, and empty sees, although his list appears to only include the Latin rite. Right now, he lists 7 empty sees. So, not counting unexpected vacancies due to death or other reasons, about 20 dioceses could have new bishops this year, although it will liekly be a lot fewer than that.
I think it’s pretty likely that Cdl. Maida will fall into the Cdl. Bevilacqua category. I can’t see his retirement offer being accepted at any point in 2005 or 2006.
IIRC, that would leave only one of Michigan’s bishops with more than ten years in his see (Bp. Garland up in Marquette), and one of the larger sees still vacant (Grand Rapids). In fact, Cdl. Maida is administering that diocese since the tragic death of Bp. Britt. Because of all that, and his closeness to the Pope, it is likely that he’ll stay on.
I suggest http://catholic-hierarchy.org if you want to see bishops worldwide.
I personally think it good that Bishop Gumbleton will retire.
Actually Domenico, it’s 23, including 3 cardinals. Among them are Cardinal McCarrick and Thomas Gumbleton. Also the apostolic nuncio, Archbishop Gabriel Montalvo, turns 75 this year.
Dale, the bishop of Marquette, of whom you spoke, turns 75 NEXT year. The turnover we are seeing is pretty wild. In the years 2003-2009, we should see a nearly 50% turnover. This does not count, of course, deaths and resignations.
No, I was right the first time. It’s a dozen diocesan bishops. Your number includes auxiliary bishops who I excluded on purpose because they are not diocesan ordinaries and do not affect the practice of the faith as ordinaries do. Gumbleton is an auxiliary in Detroit.
“Pope John Paul has had a habit in recent years of leaving men in office well after their official retirement date.”
Would that he would have left Archbishop Donahue of Atlanta there longer. He retired the day he turned 76, IIRC.