Pope Francis accepted the early retirement request of Italian Bishop Gianfranco Todisco, who begged to be allowed to return to missionary work or to be sent "to the farthest, most disadvantaged" diocese.
The Vatican announced Bishop Todisco's resignation on April 21 as Bishop of Melfi-Rapolla-Venosa in southern Italy. The bishop is 71, and the normal retirement age is 75.
In a letter to the people of his diocese, Bishop Todisco said he had made his request in early November and received a letter from the Pope saying he would think and pray about it. A few weeks later, Pope Francis phoned and "asked me if I was still ready to leave. My answer was yes," the bishop said.
