Pope accepts resignation of Belarus archbishop who angered Lukashenko
By Philip Pullella and Polina Ivanova
Archbishop Tadeusz Kondrusiewicz conducts a service on Christmas Eve in Minsk
VATICAN CITY/MOSCOW (Reuters) – Pope Francis on Sunday accepted the resignation of the head of the Catholic Church in Belarus, Archbishop Tadeusz Kondrusiewicz, who spent time in exile last year after angering President Alexander Lukashenko.
Kondrusiewicz turned 75 on Sunday, the age at which bishops are required to submit resignation letters to the pope, which he then decides whether to accept.
It is highly unusual for the pope to accept a bishop’s resignation precisely on his 75th birthday and even more so to announce it on a Sunday.