Archbishop Daniel M. Buechlein

(Indianapolis, Ind.) - The fifth Archbishop of Indianapolis has been granted the decision to retire due to health issues.

Archbishop Daniel M. Buechlein held a press conference at the Catholic Center in Indianapolis Wednesday to announce that Pope Benedict XVI had accepted his early retirement.

Buechlein was diagnosed with Hodgkin's lymphoma in 2008 and suffered a stroke in March.

The 73-year-old has been archbishop of the Indianapolis Archdiocese since being appointed in 1992 by Pope John Paul II.

“It has been a joy for me to serve as Archbishop of the Archdiocese of Indianapolis for the past 20 years. I want to thank all of the clergy, religious, archdiocesan staff and lay people for the support you have given me over the years,” Buechlein said. “You truly have been a blessing to me. With your help and the help of God we have been able to accomplish much.”

Auxiliary Bishop Christopher J. Coyne has been named the Apostolic Administrator. He will oversee the archdiocese until a new archbishop is named by the Vatican.

Buechlein said he will retire to Saint Meinrad Archabbey, the Benedictine community where he began as a monk nearly 50 years ago.

The Indianapolis Archdiocese oversees Catholic churches from Indianapolis to southeast Indiana, including those in Dearborn, Ohio, Ripley, Switzerland and Franklin counties.