Pope Francis removes Memphis bishop in Tennessee following Vatican investigation

Francis has forcibly removed the bishop of Memphis, in the US state of Tennessee, Monsignor Martin Holley, following a Vatican investigation into the diocese.

Pope Francis has forcibly removed the bishop of Memphis, in the US state of Tennessee, Monsignor Martin Holley, following a Vatican investigation into the diocese.

The Vatican didn't say why Holley was removed. In a brief announcement Wednesday, the Vatican said only that Francis had "relieved (Holley) from the pastoral governance" of the diocese and named Louisville Archbishop Joseph Kurtz to replace him temporarily until a new bishop is named.

The phrasing in the announcement is commonly used by the Vatican when the pope forcibly removes a bishop who refuses to resign voluntarily.

Earlier this year, the Vatican dispatched two archbishops to investigate Holley's actions since he became a bishop in 2016, news reports said at the time. One of Holley's deputies resigned suddenly in June. The results of the Vatican investigation haven't been made public.