Vatican City.- Pope Francis has approved the resignation of Monsignor Benito Ángeles, the auxiliary bishop of Santo Domingo, as he approaches the mandatory retirement age of 75.

Monsignor Benito Ángeles Fernández tendered his resignation in compliance with the Canon Code, which stipulates that bishops must offer their resignation upon reaching 75 years of age. The acceptance of his resignation was officially announced by the Conference of the Dominican Episcopate (CED) following the expiration of his age limit this Sunday.

As per the statement released by the CED, “Pope Francis has accepted the resignation submitted by His Excellency Most Reverend Monsignor Ramón Benito Ángeles Fernández as the auxiliary bishop of Santo Domingo.”

With this acceptance, Monsignor Ángeles transitions to the role of bishop emeritus. Besides his duties as auxiliary bishop, he also serves as the rector of the Catholic University of Santo Domingo (UCSD) and the episcopal vicar of Santo Domingo Este within the Archdiocese of Santo Domingo.

Monsignor Ángeles had forwarded his resignation letter to the Vatican several months prior, in accordance with the prescribed procedure, which comes into effect upon reaching 75 years of age.

Having been ordained as a priest on December 23, 1978, in the Diocese of La Vega, Monsignor Ángeles assumed the role of auxiliary bishop of Santo Domingo and titular of Febiana following his appointment by Pope Francis on July 1, 2017. Additionally, on June 26, 2020, he was appointed as the rector of the Santo Domingo Catholic University.