WASHINGTON (OSV News) -- Pope Francis has accepted the resignation of Bishop Michael R. Cote, 75, of Norwich, Connecticut, and appointed Archbishop Christopher J. Coyne of Hartford, Connecticut, as apostolic administrator of the diocese.

The resignation and appointment were publicized in Washington Sept. 3 by Msgr. John Paul Pedera, chargé d’affaires of the apostolic nunciature, in the temporary absence of Cardinal Christophe Pierre, apostolic nuncio to the United States.

Bishop Cote, who has reached the age at which canon law requires bishops to submit their resignation to the pope, has headed the Norwich Diocese since St. John Paul II appointed him the fifth bishop of the diocese March 11, 2003. He was installed May 14, 2003.

He previously served as auxiliary bishop of the Diocese of Portland in his home state of Maine from 1995 to 2003.

The Diocese of Norwich covers 1,978 square miles and has a Catholic population of 228,520 out of a total population of 669,430.MORE TO COME