Pope John Paul II was the Holy See the last time Lubbock Catholics saw a new bishop appointed to the Hub City.
The Most Rev. Plácido Rodríguez, who became Lubbock’s bishop in 1994, will retire next year. Canon law requires diocesan bishops to submit their resignation by their 75th birthday.
“I want to demystify the whole thing about retirement,” Rodríguez, 73, said following a news conference on Tuesday.
Rodríguez turns 74 on Oct. 11.
Nearly 100 people attended a news conference and lunch on Tuesday.