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Stefan Heße (archive image)
Photo: Axel Heimken / dpa
Hamburg's Archbishop Stefan Heße has offered the Pope his resignation because of breaches of duty in dealing with allegations of abuse.
"In order to avert damage to the office of Archbishop and the Archbishopric of Hamburg, I offer Pope Francis my resignation and ask him to immediately relieve him of my duties," Heße said in a personal statement.
The criminal lawyer Björn Gercke had accused the former head of personnel in the Archdiocese of Cologne eleven breaches of duty.
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wit / dpa / AFP