VATICAN CITY (AP) — Pope Francis has accepted the resignation of a Honduran bishop accused of sexual misconduct with seminarians.

Francis had ordered an investigation into the allegations against Tegulcigalpa Auxiliary Bishop Juan José Pineda Fasquelle last year. On Friday, the Vatican said Francis had accepted Pineda's resignation.

Pineda was the top deputy to Cardinal Oscar Rodriguez Maradiaga, one of Francis' main cardinal advisers.

Maradiaga had frequently left the archdiocese in Pineda's care due to his obligations as a member of Francis' kitchen cabinet, and poor health that has forced him to seek medical treatment overseas.

The Vatican investigation had focused on both sexual misconduct allegations against Pineda and financial mismanagement charges against Maradiaga.

Francis has stood by Maradiaga's assertion of innocence.