The clergyman who served as the personal secretary of late Pope John Paul II has resigned as Krakow's archbishop, reaching the retirement age of 75.
Cardinal Stanislaw Dziwisz has sent a resignation letter to Pope Francis, according to a statement today from the cardinal's spokesman, the Rev Robert Necek.
Catholic Church regulations require all bishops who turn 75 to present their resignation to the pope, who has an unlimited time to act on it. It is believed that Francis will keep Dziwisz as Krakow archbishop until after the city has hosted International Youth Day in July 2016.
Dziwisz turned 75 on Sunday, the day when Pope Francis declared John Paul II a saint. Dziwisz served as John Paul's closest aide throughout his 1978-2005 papacy.
