Pope Francis, at the Vatican. GUGLIELMO MANGIAPANE / REUTERS
The rare move came after Pope Francis sent two American bishops to visit the diocese of Joseph Strickland in Texas in June.
Pope Francis on Saturday removed US Bishop Joseph Strickland, a prominent conservative who has repeatedly criticized his papacy, the Vatican announced. The rare move to remove a senior Catholic official came after Francis sent two American bishops to visit the diocese of Joseph Strickland in Texas in June.
“The Holy Father reported to the pastoral government of the Diocese of Tyler (United States) Joseph E. Strickland», announced the Vatican. The bishop of Austin, Joe Vasquez, has been appointed apostolic administrator of the diocese, continues this text without further details. The Vatican did not specify what triggered this summer’s apostolic visit – which Joseph Strickland himself made public – nor what conclusions were drawn from it.
But Joseph Strickland, appointed by former Pope Benedict XVI in 2012, has been one of Pope Francis’ most prominent critics. The 86-year-old Argentine pope has sought to make the Church more open to different points of view. But he has faced stiff opposition from his critics, particularly in the United States, who have accused him of sowing confusion and failing to respect the fundamental beliefs of Catholics.
“Tell the truth”
In a message published at the beginning of the year on X (formerly Twitter), Joseph Strickland accused the pope of “undermine the deposit of faith“. In a blog posted on his website in September, the bishop responded to rumors that the Vatican was encouraging him to resign. “I cannot resign as Bishop of Tyler because that would mean abandoning the flock in my care“, he wrote.
“I also said that I will respect the authority of Pope Francis if he removes me from my position as Bishop of Tyler“, he wrote. “I love Jesus Christ and the Catholic Church he established. My only desire is to speak His truth and live God’s will to the best of my ability“, he wrote. The Diocese of Tyler announced the Vatican’s decision to dismiss the bishop on its website Saturday, saying: “Our work as the Catholic Church in Northeast Texas continues”.