VATICAN CITY — Pope Benedict XVI on Monday accepted the early retirement of a northeastern Pennsylvania bishop who critics say alienated parishioners with his leadership style.

The brief announcement, keeping to Vatican tradition, did not say why Bishop Joseph Martino, 63, submitted his resignation. The usual retirement age for bishops is 75.

Martino, who was installed in 2003, has been a controversial, conservative leader of the diocese that serves 350,000 parishioners.

Earlier this year, he blasted a local Catholic university for sponsoring a lecture by a gay-rights advocate. He also threatened to cancel a traditional St. Patrick's Day parade Mass if parade organizers honored an abortion-rights supporter.

Supporters insist Martino is simply enforcing church teachings.

The pope accepted Martino's resignation under a provision of church law in which a bishop, due to illness or "some other grave reason, has become unsuited" to carry out his duties.

The pope on Monday also accepted the resignation of Scranton's auxiliary bishop, John Dougherty, for reasons of age. Dougherty submitted his letter of resignation to the Vatican more than two years ago, when he turned 75, but it has not been accepted until now.

No new appointments were announced.

A spokesman for the Vatican declined to elaborate on the resignations, noting the Diocese of Scranton has scheduled a news conference.

Rumors of Martino's departure had been swirling for days after The Times-Tribune of Scranton reported last week that workers had started moving furniture from the bishop's rectory residence in Scranton to a retreat home several miles away.