Pope Francis has accepted the resignation of a prominent US cardinal accused of sexually assaulting a teenager nearly 50 years ago, APA reports quoting BBC.
Theodore McCarrick, 88, a former Archbishop of Washington, must also carry out "penance and prayer" pending a canonical trial, the Vatican said.
Last month US Church officials said the allegations were credible.
Mr McCarrick has said he has "no recollection" of the alleged abuse. Further allegations have since emerged.