Pope Francis has accepted the resignation of Bishop J Terry Steib of Memphis, Tennessee, and has appointed as his successor Auxiliary Bishop Martin Holley of Washington.

Bishop Steib has headed the Memphis Diocese since 1993. He is 76. Canon law requires all bishops to turn in their resignation at age 75. Bishop Holley, 61, has been a Washington auxiliary since 2004.

The changes were announced on Tuesday in Washington by Mgr Walter Erbi, charge d'affaires of the Vatican nunciature.

Washington Cardinal Donald Wuerl said the appointment was "a blessing for that diocesan church" and "also a joy for all of us in Washington."