Archbishop Rigali Schedules 'Important Announcement' for Tuesday Morning

Philadelphia Roman Catholic Archbishop Cardinal Justin Rigali has scheduled a news conference for 10 a.m.Tuesday morning at the Archdiocesan Office Center Auditorium.

Following the news conference the public is invited to participate in a Catholic Mass at the Cathedral Basilica of Saints Peter and Paul in Center City Philadelphia. The Cardinal will lead the service beginning at 12:05 p.m..

A report on 6ABC.com indicates Rigali will announce his retirement and that he will be succeeded as the leader of Philadelphia's Roman Catholic diocese by Charles J. Chaput, the Archbishop of Denver Colorado.

Rigali offered his resignation when he turned 75 last year, in accordance with church protocol. Rigali was announced as Archbishop of Philadelphia in July, 2003 by Pope John Paul II. He was elevated to cardinal in September and officially took the office on October 7, 2003.

Rigali's tenure has been tinged by a priest sex scandal that included several priests who had served Upper Main Line parishes, including