Father Tom Will Return To Chicago, Resigns From Papal Council

ROME, ITALY — Father Tom McCarthy, the beloved former St. Rita High School president and principal who recently accepted a position from Pope Francis as the English speaking representative on the Pontifical Council at Vatican City, has resigned from the post. McCarthy announced his decision to leave Rome after just one month and return to Chicago in a lengthy letter shared on social media Wednesday morning.

McCarthy said he was honored and excited to move to Rome for the new role when it was offered to him in December, but after a month on the job has come to realize that the ministry is a "desk job" and has decided to return to the United States, he said in the letter.

"The ministry of the Pontifical Council is a much needed work of the Church," he said. "The people I was working with in the Pontifical Council were unbelievably friendly, welcoming and very dedicated to the ministry of the Pontifical Council and the Church. I do not feel that I was lied to or duped, but rather I am realizing that my expectations of the job were different than their expectations."

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McCarthy, known as "Father Tom" in Catholic communities on the South Side of Chicago, has long been a beloved figure as a Sunday pastor at local parishes. Just before moving to Rome, the Augustinian priest preached his ministry at Villanova University in Philadelphia.

"I know that my heart is not in this ministry (in Rome)," he continued in his letter. "I do not regret the decision to come to Rome, and I feel that I have received many graces from this short experience. One is that I have come to truly appreciate the internal ministry of the Roman Curia and the people dedicated to this work."

He said he's met and celebrated Mass with Pope Francis twice.

"Someone told me that this experience will be a great homily one day," he said.

McCarthy said he will return to Chicago on Thursday before spending some time to decide where he will go next.

"I am open to where God will lead," he said.

My life is changing again! I’m returning to the Inited States and it’s all explained in this letter! Thanks and God bless! pic.twitter.com/8JFVnCiRFT
— Fr. Tom McCarthy OSA (@Frtomosa) April 11, 2018

Photo via Father Tom McCarthy OSA / Via Twitter