US Bishop Richard Malone resigned after being informed of the findings of a Vatican investigation into alleged child sexual abuse concealment.

Malone, 73, resigned yesterday, two years earlier than the bishop's usual retirement time. He was under pressure to resign for years over the allegations of covering up or mishandling priests in his diocese in Buffalo, western New York, USA.

The conclusions of the Vatican investigation have not yet been published, but are a factor in Malone's decision to resign.

Pope Francis agreed to allow Malone to resign and appoint another temporary bishop instead.

Last year, a whistleblower in the Malone office published documents for the WKBW news channel proving he had removed the names of dozens of priests on the list of alleged sexual abuse.

Malone denied the allegations, but admitted "serious chaos" in the diocese in its announcement yesterday. He said that he had made a mistake by not solving the "personnel problem" more quickly.

The Catholic Church has faced allegations of sexual abuse around the world for years, forcing Pope Francis to take drastic steps to eliminate priests from child sexual abuse. Many priests and bishops have been charged and dismissed. Malone diocese is facing more than 200 child sexual abuse lawsuits.