Pope accepts resignation of Polish archbishop accused of ignoring child abuse

ANKARA

Pope Francis accepted the resignation of a Polish archbishop accused of covering up the sexual abuse of minors in the Catholic Church, a Vatican statement said on Saturday.

"Holy Father Francis accepted the resignation of Archbishop Andrzej Dziega from serving as Archbishop Metropolitan of Szczecin-Kamien," Poland's apostolic nunciature, the equivalent of an embassy for the Vatican, said on its website.

Dziega, 71, is a Polish Roman Catholic bishop and the incumbent archbishop of the Archdiocese of Szczecin-Kamien.

In 2021, the TVN24 news channel's documentary alleged that priest Andrzej Dymer, who died that year, had abused children and Dziega had known since 1995 but taken no action.

Polish media have long reported allegations of negligence and cover ups for pedophiles in the Catholic Church.