…but one (expected) resignation: Bishop Charron of Des Moines, for health reasons.
It is customary for bishops to send the pope a letter asking to retire when they turn 75 years old. However, bishops may be granted retirement earlier for a variety of reasons. Bishop Charron, 67, wrote a letter to the Holy Father dated Aug. 15, 2006, saying that he had recently been diagnosed with polymyalgia rheumatica, or PMR, a chronic condition. His doctor had recommended he consider retirement, and after a great deal of prayerful discernment for his future and for how the people of the diocese could best be served, he asked to retire early.
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