ROME – Pope Francis accepted the resignation of Cardinal Robert Sarah as head of the Vatican office for the liturgy, removing a declared conservative and possible future pope from the ranks of the Vatican leadership.
The Holy See Press Office announced on Saturday that Cardinal Sarah had resigned. No successor was named.
The cardinal presented his resignation as required by church law when he turned 75 on June 15 last year. But the pope often allows cardinals to serve two or three years after that age, even though they are no more than 80.
In accepting Cardinal Sarah’s resignation, the pope removed a subordinate who was at odds with his approach to liturgy, homosexuality and relations with the Muslim world. The cardinal is a hero to many conservative Catholics, some of whom see him as a future pontiff. He will still be able to vote in a conclave to elect a pope until he turns 80.
Last year, the cardinal raised controversy with a book widely interpreted as an attempt to influence Pope Francis’ decision to allow ordination of married men as priests. The episode caused embarrassment for the cardinal when retired Pope Benedict XVI asked to remove his name as co-author of the book.