The Bishop of the Diocese of Fréjus-Toulon in southern France has resigned at the request of Pope Francis.
Bishop Dominique Rey, who resigned on 7 January, had been bishop of the diocese since 2000 and was credited with fostering a significant number of vocations to the priesthood and religious life, and at odds to the sharp decline in vocations across France.
In 2020, Rey ordained nine men to the sacred priesthood and six new deacons. By the end of 2021, the diocese had 215 incardinated priests, an increase from 187 in 2000, surpassing even the figure in 1950 of 210.
