Pope removes Paraguayan bishop suspected of covering up sexual abuse

VATICAN CITY, Sept. 25 (UPI) -- The Vatican announced Thursday that Pope Francis has removed Monsignor Rogelio Livieres Plano from his position as bishop of Ciudad del Este.

Although the Vatican did not specify the reason for the removal, the BBC reported that Plano had been at the center of a scandal involving his support of an Argentinian priest accused of sexual abuse.

According to a statement released by the Holy See, the pope made "The grave decision" to remove Plano from his position "under the weight of serious pastoral concerns."

The Holy Father named Ricardo Jorge Valenzuela Ríos, Bishop of Villarrica del Espíritu Santo, as Apostolic Administrator of the now vacant diocese.

In the wake of Plano's removal, the pope called for unity and reconciliation "to overcome any factionalism and discord."

Pope Francis has vowed to crack down on sexual predators in the church after a series of scandals and amid accusations the church has been protecting abusers.

Plano's removal comes days after the Vatican announced that defrocked former Archbishop to the Dominican Republic Jozef Wesolowski has been placed under house arrest while he awaits trial on sex abuse charges.