Polish Archbishop Resigns After Sex Abuse Coverup: Vatican

Pope Francis has accepted the resignation of Polish Archbishop Andrzej Dziga, 71, of Szczecin in northwestern Poland, amidst accusations of covering up the sexual abuse of a minor, as announced by the Vatican on Saturday.

In a statement, the apostolic representative representing the Holy See stated that Archbishop Dziga is "resigning" from his position.

Allegations of negligence and cover-up of pedophile cases within the Catholic Church in Poland have been widely reported by the Polish media. According to reports from the Gazeta Wyborcza website, the pedophile case has sparked significant concern in Poland, with the results of two internal church courts already forwarded to Rome.

Pope Francis has prioritized combating sexual assault within the church, advocating for a "zero tolerance" policy in response to numerous scandals. While clergy and staff are mandated to report abuse, information disclosed during confessions remains confidential. However, there are increasing calls from victims' rights activists for greater accountability and transparency.