VATICAN CITY (Reuters) – Pope Francis has accepted the resignation from a top position in the Vatican of Cardinal Robert Sarah, a hero to many conservatives who often contradicted the Pope on theological issues.
Hailing from Guinea, the African Cardinal has held several Vatican positions over the past twenty years, the last of which as head of the department overseeing such things as worship and sacraments.
Sarah had resigned last June when he turned 75, as Church law requires of all bishops, but the Pope often allows Vatican officials to stay longer in their posts. The Vatican announced that it would resign on Saturday.
In his last position, which he held since 2014, Sarah dragged her feet into making the changes Francis wanted, such as allowing women to participate in Maundy Thursday services.
Conservatives in the church often put Sarah on their wish list to one day succeed Francis as Pope. But most observers saw that possibility as extraordinarily remote, as Sarah was seen as very divisive and would not have broad support among fellow cardinals.
Aside from openly disagreeing with Francis on a number of theological issues, Sarah was involved in an embarrassing episode last year about a book in defense of priestly celibacy that he says was co-written with former Pope Benedict.
A few days before the publication, Benedict said he wanted his name removed from the cover because he had only made a small contribution.
Sarah publicly disputed Benedict’s version, but agreed that Benedict would be featured in future editions as a contributor and not a co-author.
Reporting by Philip Pullella; Editing by Frances Kerry