WASHINGTON (June 6, 2003) -— Pope John Paul II has accepted the resignation of Auxiliary Bishop Agustín A. Román of Miami.  Bishop Roman submitted his resignation upon reaching his 75th birthday, in accord with Canon Law.

Archbishop Gabriel Montalvo, Apostolic Nuncio to the United States, made the announcement.

Agustín A. Román was born May 5, 1928 in Havana.  Ordained to the priesthood July 5, 1959, for the Diocese of Matanzas, Cuba, he was appointed Titular Bishop of Sertei and Auxiliary to the Archbishop of Miami, March 24, 1979.  

  Bishop Roman studied Philosophy at St. Albert the Great Seminary in Matanzas, Cuba, and Theology at the Seminary for Foreign Missions, Montreal, Canada.  Later, he earned a master's in Religious Studies at Barry College (now university), Miami, and a Master's in Human Resources at Biscayne College (now St. Thomas University), Opa-Locka, Florida.   He was ordained a priest for the Diocese of Mantanzas, Cuba, July 5, 1959.

Expelled from Cuba September 17, 1961, along with 132 other priests and a bishop, he served from 1962 to 1966 in the Diocese of Temuco, Chile.  Bishop Román has served the Archdiocese of Miami since 1966.  He was Vicar for Hispanics from 1976 to 1984 and Executive Director of the Ministry for Pastoral Service from 1981 to 1997.

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