Bishop Franco Mulakkal - File photo
In a significant development, Pope Francis has relieved Bishop Franco Mulakkal of pastoral duties, according to the Catholic Bishop Conference of India (CBCI).
A nun has accused Bishop Franco Mulakkal of raping her and the Kerala police questioned him for second consecutive day on Thursday in connection with the case.
According to a CBCI statement, Pope Francis has appointed Bishop Emeritus of the Archdiocese of Bombay Agnelo Rufino Gracias as the Apostolic administrator of the diocese of Jalandhar with immediate effect.
The announcement came even as the senior Catholic priest is being questioned by the Special Investigation Team for the second day here Thursday.
The Pope took the decision in response to Mulakkal's September 16 letter offering to "step aside temporarily" as the Bishop of the Jalandhar diocese, Kerala Catholic Bishops Council Spokesman Fr Varghese Vallikkattu said.
He wrote the letter after Kerala police summoned him to appear before it for questioning in the case.
Bishop Mulakkal has been accused of repeated rape by the Kerala-based nun of Missionaries of Jesus Congregation of the Jalandhar diocese. He has denied the charges.
(With PTI inputs)
