Philadelphia Archbishop, Cardinal Justin Rigali is set to resign, according to a writer for the National Catholic Reporter.
Blogger Michael Sean Winters wrote the report last Thursday, claiming that a source informed him of the explosive news. According to Winters, a press conference announcing Rigali’s resignation will take place sometime this week.
Rigali is expected to hold a press conference Tuesday morning, sources told NBC10.
It's still not confirmed what Rigali will talk about at that event.
Winters also named four people who were in consideration as replacements for Rigali: Archbishop Wilton Gregory of Atlanta, Archbishop Joseph Kurtz of Louisville, Archbishop Charles Chaput of Denver and Bishop William Lori of Bridgeport.
Of the four names mentioned, Chaput is the favorite and has allegedly already been picked for the job by Pope Benedict XVI, according to reports.
Appointed the Archbishop of Denver in 1997, Chaput is the first Native American Archbishop.
Local
Breaking news and the stories that matter to your neighborhood.
Reports of Rigali’s resignation come in the midst of a turbulent time for the Philadelphia archdiocese. An explosive grand jury report released in February accused the Archdiocese of failing to stop numerous cases of sexual abuse.
As a result of the report, 21 priests were suspended and two priests, a former priest and a Catholic school teacher were arrested for allegedly sexually assaulting two young boys.
Rigali, 76, was appointed the eighth Archbishop of Philadelphia in 2003, having served as the Archbishop of St. Louis prior to coming to Philly.
