Bishop Franco Mulakkal has resigned as the Jalandhar bishop. The Apostolic Nunciature, which represents the Vatican in the country, said that there will be no canonical restrictions on Mulakkal’s ministry. He will be known as Franco Bishop Emeritus.
Reports said that Franco Mulakkal had visited the Pope in Vatican in February and informed him of his decision to resign. JanamTV report, say that the Vatican did not demand his resignation as disciplinary action.
Franco Mulakkal was in the news for allegations of rape of a nun of Missionaries of Jesus. It is alleged that the rape took place multiple times between 2014 and 2016.
However, a local court in Kottayam acquitted him of rape charges in 2022. An appeal against his acquittal in the case is presently at the High Court.
