His announcement Saturday is in keeping with the Code of Canon Law, which requires bishops to offer their resignation at age 75.
Referring to his retirement in his pastoral letter for 2001-2002, Cardinal Martini said «this is not just a formal act, but something useful to give impetus and an opening to new persons.»
«I do not keep secret my desire, expressed to the Pope, to retire to Jerusalem to dedicate myself to prayer and the study of codes and manuscripts,» the Jesuit cardinal revealed.
Before being named archbishop of Milan by John Paul II on Dec. 29, 1979, Cardinal Martini had been rector of the Pontifical Biblical Institute (1969-1978) and rector of the Pontifical Gregorian University (1978-1979).
