Bishop Vilhelms Lapelis, OP Retires

The Dominican Bishop Vilhelms Toms-Marija Lapelis of the Diocese of Liepaja in the Republic of Latvia has presented his letter of resignation to the Holy Father. According to the Vatican Information Services (VIS), his resignation has been accepted. The resignation was according to the Code of Canon Law 401 2 which required a diocesan bishop who has become less able to fulfill his office because of ill health or some other grave cause to earnestly present his resignation from office.
Bishop Lapelis was born in 1961 at Daugavpil. He joined the Order and made profession in 1985. He was ordained to the priesthood the following year in 1986. He was appointed and consecrated coadjutor bishop of Liepaja in 2000 and he assumed the office of bishop in May 2001. He has been the Secretary General of the Latvia Conference of Bishops.
The Republic of Latvia is a small country in the Baltic Region of Northern Europe. It is bordered by Estonia to the north, Lithuania to the south, Russia to the east and Belarus to the southeast. Riga is the capital city. The diocese is located in the city of Liepaja which is a coastal city to the west. The diocese has a total population of about 40,000 Catholics.
From the curia, we wish our brother bishop Gods favour.

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