Pope Francis has dismissed Split-based friar Gracijan Stipe Gasperov from the Order of Friars Minor Conventual, relieving him of all his duties in the Holy Order and banning him from celebrating the sacraments, teaching and speaking in public on behalf of the Church, the Croatian Conventual Franciscan Province of St Jerome said on Saturday.

The pontiff made the decision based on a report from the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith following complaints by five boys in Split that they had been sexually abused by the friar.

The papal decree was served on Gasperov on August 1, which he signed and thus confirmed that he accepts it, the statement said.