Bishop Paďour steps down as head of diocese

For health reasons, Bishop Jiří Paďour is stepping down as the head of the diocese in České Budějovice. The 70-year-old bishop tendered his resignation to Pope Francis last year. The Vatican confirmed on Saturday the move had been accepted. Bishop Paďour headed the diocese since 2002; he was a dissident under the former communist regime after refusing to collaborate with the StB, the secret police, in 1979.

Author: Jan Velinger