SCOTLAND
Scotsman

Pope Francis has accepted the resignation of Scottish Cardinal Keith O’Brien following a meeting between the two.

It is understood that he will be reduced to strictly private life and no longer perform the key duties of a Cardinal, it has been confirmed.

The Cardinal, had been the subject of an ongoing investigation by the Vatican, after he was forced to resign in February 2013 after three serving priests and one former priest come forward with allegations of ‘inappropriate behaviour’.

In what is an unprecedented action, Cardinal O’Brien has now removed himself from the key duties that pertain to the office of Cardinal and the election of any future Pope.

In a statement Cardinal O’Brien, the former Archbishop of St Andrews and Edinburgh, echoed his sentiments from February 2013 when the allegations first emerged: “I wish to repeat the apology which I made to the Catholic Church…