Pope accepts resignation of Paris archbishop

Pope Francis has accepted the resignation of the archbishop of Paris after he admitted to an “ambiguous” relationship with a woman in 2012.

Archbishop Michel Aupetit said on Thursday that he offered to step down “to preserve the diocese from the division that suspicion and loss of trust are continuing to provoke.” Aupetit, who had led the Paris church since 2018, sent a letter to Francis offering to resign following a report in Le Point magazine saying he had a consensual, intimate relationship with a woman.

The article in Le Point relied on several anonymous sources who said they had seen a 2012 e-mail Aupetit sent by mistake to his secretary. the pope accepted Aupetit's offer and named Monsignor George Pontier to serve in the archbishop's place.