Pope Francis on Tuesday accepted the resignation of Archbishop Michael O. Jackels from the pastoral government of the Archdiocese of Dubuque, Iowa.
An April 4 statement from the United States bishops’ conference said Jackels’ resignation was for health reasons.
Bishop emeritus Richard E. Pates of Des Moines, Iowa, has been appointed apostolic administrator of the Archdiocese of Dubuque, the USCCB communication said.
Jackels, who will turn 69 on April 13, has been archbishop of Dubuque since May 2013. He is scheduled to offer the archdiocese’s Chrism Mass in the Cathedral of St. Raphael in the afternoon on April 4.
The archbishop was hospitalized for a heart attack in early May 2019. He returned to ministry six weeks later with the permission of his cardiologist.
He thanked the people of his archdiocese for their prayers in a message published in the now-closed online publication The Witness.
“The doctor would have me follow a diet and exercise regimen, and learn how to deal appropriately with stress. I am going to need Divine Assistance to carry that out!” he said on June 14, 2019.
“I am humbled by the thoughtfulness and generosity that people have shown me. I will do my best to honor that by making your sacrifices count for something, and to pay it forward.”
