Pope Francis has accepted the resignation of Bishop Robert Finn, head of the Diocese of Kansas City-St. Joseph.
The Vatican announced Tuesday that Bishop Finn had offered his resignation under a law that allows bishops to resign if they are ill or have another "grave" reason. The announcement did not include a reason for Bishop Finn's resignation.
In 2013, Finn plead guilty to charges that he failed to report suspected child abuse. It was the first case where a pope sanctioned bishops for covering up pedophilia.
In 2012, he was sentenced to two years probation after pleading guilty to a misdemeanor charge for failing to report suspected abuse.
Finn waited six months before notifying police about Rev. Shawn Ratigan, who had hundreds of inappropriate photos of young girls on his computer. The photos had been taken in and around churches where Ratigan worked. He was sentenced to 50 years in prison.
Finn has led the Diocese since 2005.
The AP reports Pope Francis has tapped Archbishop Joseph Naumman to lead the diocese temporarily.
