(OSV News) — Archbishop Gabriel Mestre of La Plata suddenly resigned after just eight months in the Argentine archdiocese, led by Cardinal Victor Manuel Fernández, prefect of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, sparking a crisis in the governance of the Argentine church. South American country.
The Vatican did not give a reason for Archbishop Mestre's resignation.
The archbishop confirmed his resignation on May 27, writing in a letter about his experience: “I feel profound peace and complete remorse before God for the way I acted.” He is only 55 years old. That's 20 years younger than the normal retirement age of 75, when church law requires bishops to submit their resignations to the pope.
Archbishop Mestre added that he had been called to Rome to answer questions about “some aspects of the Diocese of Mar del Plata following his transfer to the Archdiocese of La Plata following his appointment as archdiocese by Pope Francis.”
The Diocese of Mar del Plata, located south of Buenos Aires, has been in turmoil since the departure of Archbishop Mestre in November 2023, with his two successors resigning before taking office.
Bishop José María Baliña resigned less than a month after his appointment, citing health complications following retinal detachment surgery, according to The Pillar. He was succeeded by Bishop Gustavo Manuel Larrazábal, who resigned only a month later.
The reason for Bishop Larazabal's resignation remains unclear. However, La Capital Mar del Plata newspaper reported that between 2007 and 2013, a woman accused Bishop Larazabal of harassment and abuse of power. The Bishop of Buenos Aires issued a brief statement on January 9. The Vatican said it had “full confidence” in Bishop Larrazabal and that “rumors” surrounding his departure were “unfounded.”
Pope Francis, who is from Argentina, later appointed Auxiliary Bishop Ernesto Giobando of Buenos Aires as the apostolic administrator of Mar del Plata.
Argentine newspaper La Nación reported that a crisis broke out in Mar del Plata during Holy Week over the transfer of a prominent priest. The local church sees him as a strong candidate to succeed Archbishop Mestre. 5.
Protesters waved posters protesting the fact that Father Luis Damián Albóniga, the former vicar of the diocese under Archbishop Mestre, had been transferred to Jujuy, about 1,200 miles northwest and on the Bolivian border.
La Capital reported that the priest, Alboni, was transferred to Jujuy in January for undisclosed reasons.