Tiny Muskens, the 71-year-old outspoken bishop of Breda, has asked the pope to relieve him of his duties on health grounds.

Muskens, who has not always toed the official church line on birth control and AIDs, said earlier he planned to join the benedictine monks’ community in Teteringen on his retirement. Hans van den Hende will replace Muskens, who has been in the job for over 12 years.