Singing bishop to take final bow
Camil Parkhe
Thursday, September 18th, 2008 AT 5:09 PM
Tags: Bishop
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DIVINE RHYTHM: Bishop Valerian D’Souza
PUNE: Bishop Valerian D’Souza, the bishop of Pune and country’s longest serving bishop, who turns 75 on October 3 has urged Pope Benedict XVI not to grant him extension after his retirement.
In his resignation letter submitted to the Holy See, the bishop, who is known in the international religious circles as the singing bishop, has said he should be relieved of the post with effect from October 3.
As per the Canon Law, which governs the Catholic Church, a bishop’s retirement age is 75 while a cardinal retires at the age of 80.
Pope Paul VI had appointed D’Souza as Pune Bishop in 1977 when he was only 43. Normally only priests who are in their 50s are appointed to this important post in the church hierarchy.
Talking to Sakaal Times on Wednesday, Bishop D’Souza said that it was up to the Vatican to take a decision on his successor. It is probable that the Vatican may have launched its search for the new incumbent in the local Bishop’s House and that D’Souza may be asked to serve a few more months as an interim arrangement.
When D’Souza was appointed bishop, the jurisdiction of Pune diocese included 11 revenue districts - from Nandurbar in the Khandesh to Sawantwadi in the Konkan region.
At that time, Pune was the third largest diocese in India. Subsequently, Nashik diocese was carved out of Pune diocese in 1987 and Sindhudurg diocese in 2005.
Now the Pune diocese comprises Pune, Satara, Solapur, Sangli districts and also Kolhapur city.
Camil Parkhe
Thursday, September 18th, 2008 AT 5:09 PM
Tags: Bishop
Close...
DIVINE RHYTHM: Bishop Valerian D’Souza
PUNE: Bishop Valerian D’Souza, the bishop of Pune and country’s longest serving bishop, who turns 75 on October 3 has urged Pope Benedict XVI not to grant him extension after his retirement.
In his resignation letter submitted to the Holy See, the bishop, who is known in the international religious circles as the singing bishop, has said he should be relieved of the post with effect from October 3.
As per the Canon Law, which governs the Catholic Church, a bishop’s retirement age is 75 while a cardinal retires at the age of 80.
Pope Paul VI had appointed D’Souza as Pune Bishop in 1977 when he was only 43. Normally only priests who are in their 50s are appointed to this important post in the church hierarchy.
Talking to Sakaal Times on Wednesday, Bishop D’Souza said that it was up to the Vatican to take a decision on his successor. It is probable that the Vatican may have launched its search for the new incumbent in the local Bishop’s House and that D’Souza may be asked to serve a few more months as an interim arrangement.
When D’Souza was appointed bishop, the jurisdiction of Pune diocese included 11 revenue districts - from Nandurbar in the Khandesh to Sawantwadi in the Konkan region.
At that time, Pune was the third largest diocese in India. Subsequently, Nashik diocese was carved out of Pune diocese in 1987 and Sindhudurg diocese in 2005.
Now the Pune diocese comprises Pune, Satara, Solapur, Sangli districts and also Kolhapur city.
