Archbishop José Antonio Eguren of Piura and Tumbes, Peru, expressed gratitude to God for his years of service to the faithful in a statement issued on April 2.
This follows the recent announcement from the Vatican that Pope Francis has accepted his resignation.
Archbishop Eguren, 67, has led the Archdiocese of Piura and Tumbes since 2006 and submitted his resignation earlier than the age limit prescribed by Canon Law. The Vatican has not disclosed the specific reason for his resignation.
During his tenure, Archbishop Eguren faced allegations related to a land trafficking case in Piura, linked to the Sodality of Christian Life (SCV).
These accusations stemmed from a 2016 report by Al Jazeera titled “Peru: The Sodalitium Scandal.”
Despite subsequent journalistic investigations questioning the accuracy of the initial report, Archbishop Eguren was implicated in media coverage.
He pursued legal action against journalist Pedro Salinas for defamation and won the case in April 2019.
In July 2023, Pope Francis dispatched Vatican envoys to Lima, Peru, to investigate abuse allegations against the SCV. Archbishop Eguren participated in these discussions.
In his resignation statement, Archbishop Eguren thanked the faithful for their support during challenging times, including the pandemic and natural disasters.
He emphasized his ongoing commitment to ecclesial service and asked for prayers as he transitions into a new phase. Archbishop Guillermo Elías Millares has been appointed as apostolic administrator for the Archdiocese of Piura.
