Cardinal William H. Keeler, who has served as archbishop of Baltimore since 1989, has submitted his letter of resignation to the Vatican.
Roman Catholic canon law requires bishops to submit their resignations after turning 75, though they cannot retire until the pope assents. Keeler turned 75 in March.
Now he awaits Pope Benedict XVI?s decision on whether to accept his resignation.
Keeler says he is in good health and whether he remains head of the diocese is out of his hands.
“It?s simply up to my superiors. They will decide when I should step down,” Keeler told The Examiner. “In that decision, I will find out what is God?s will for me.”
Today, Keeler will walk with more than 1,000 young people on a Palm Sunday pilgrimage vigil from St. Mary?s Church of the Assumption in Govens to the College of Notre Dame, where he will celebrate Mass at the Cathedral of Mary Our Queen. Observers believe Keeler will remain archbishop for the foreseeable future.
“That would be my great hope,” said Monsignor Joseph L. Luca of the Church of Saint Louis in Clarksville. “For me, personally he has always taught by example. He has always remained essentially a priest at heart ? a pastor concerned with what is best for his people.”
Cardinal Keeler has maintained a unique interfaith dialogue with local Jewish leaders, worked with the Baltimore area?s numerous Catholic schools and three Catholic colleges ? Notre Dame, Loyola, and Mt. St. Mary?s.
He?s overseen the restoration of the historic Basilica on Cathedral Street, scheduled to reopen Nov. 4, and marked his 50th anniversary in the priesthood last July.
“The biggest challenge I see today is passing on a living faith to the our current generation and the next,” Keeler said. “And trying to get them to understand why it is so important.”
In 1994, Keeler presented Baltimore to visiting Pope John Paul II.
“Cardinal Keeler?s gift to our city has been in his ability to bring people together ? across lines of race, class and faith,” Baltimore Mayor Martin O?Malley said. “We?ve looked to him for strength in times of great tragedy and great joy. And I?m guessing the Holy Father is going to bless us with his leadership for another five years.”
