Pope Francis Accepts Cardinal John Njue’s Resignation as Archbishop of Nairobi

His Eminence Cardinal John Njue has formally resigned as the Archbishop of Nairobi Diocese.

In a communiqué on Monday, the Holy See Press Office announced that Pope Francis had accepted Njue’s resignation from the position.

77-year-old Njue, who was appointed as the Archbishop for Nairobi in 2007 by Pope Benedict XVI, tendered his resignation after he attained the mandatory retirement age of 75 years.

The Pope has consequently appointed Right Reverend David Kamau, the Auxiliary Bishop of Nairobi, as the Apostolic Administrator of the Nairobi Diocese.

Born in Embu in 1944, Njue was ordained as a priest by Pope Paul VI on January 6th, 1973. He will retain the title of Cardinal.

Njue holds a doctorate in philosophy from the Pontifical Urbaniana University and a doctorate in theology from the Pontifical Lateran University.

He previously served as the Bishop for Embu and Nyeri dioceses in addition to being chairman of various commissions, such as the Episcopal commission for major seminaries in Kenya and the Kenya Episcopal Conference’s Justice and Peace Commission.

He participated in the conclave of March 2013, which elected Pope Francis.