Cardinal Blase Cupich turns 75, sends mandatory resignation letter to Vatican

Cardinal Blase Cupich submitted his mandatory resignation letter to the Vatican on Tuesday.

The cardinal, who turned 75, sent his resignation letter to Pope Francis, the Archdiocese of Chicago said. He submitted the letter because he has reached the mandatory retirement age set by the church.

However, Pope Francis could reject the letter and ask Cardinal Cupich to continue to serve.

"Cardinal Cupich has complied with this requirement, and it is now in the hands of the Holy Father to determine when it is accepted," the archdiocese said in a statement.

Cupich is one the pope’s key leadership people helping to select future bishops promoting his vision for a more welcoming church for those formerly excluded or often marginalized: gay, divorced, poor and migrant Catholics.

Pope Francis has not only appointed Cupich a member of the powerful Congregation for Bishops, an influential Vatican slate-making committee, but Cupich is also among 48 individuals hand-picked by the pope to attend the global synod of Catholic bishops and lay delegates discussing the future of the Catholic Church, which has some more conservative members concerned.