WASHINGTON - Pope Francis has accepted the resignation of Archbishop Michael O. Jackels from the Office of Archbishop of Dubuque for health reasons and has appointed Most Reverend Richard E. Pates, bishop emeritus of Des Moines, as the Apostolic Administrator of the Archdiocese of Dubuque.
The resignation and appointment were publicized in Washington, D.C. on April 4, 2023 by Archbishop Christophe Pierre, apostolic nuncio to the United States.
The Archdiocese of Dubuque is comprised of 17,403 square miles in the State of Iowa and has a total population of 1,017,175 of which 185,260 are Catholic. ### USCCB Release
LETTER To the Catholic faithful in the Archdiocese of Dubuque:
For health reasons, I asked our Holy Father Francis – may God preserve him – to
accept my resignation as Archbishop of Dubuque.
Jesus called me to this ministry, and I wouldn’t take my hands from this plow unless
Jesus, through his Vicar on earth, called me away. And so it is, effective 4 April 2023.
Pope Francis has appointed Bishop Richard Pates, retired Bishop of Des Moines, to serve
as Apostolic Administrator until the next Archbishop of Dubuque is named.
I’ve enjoyed getting to know you, praying with you, sharing meals together, joining you
as a partner in ministry.
Your responses on our Synod Survey confirmed our ministry: sharing with the Church
and the poor; learning/teaching the Gospel; devotion to and worship of the Eucharist.
These are ministries that you rightly appreciate, are presently committed to, and want
to see enhanced. Keep up the good work. You’re great. God bless you.
I’ll miss you. Let us pray for each other, and keep our eyes fixed on Jesus.
Archbishop Michael Jackels
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