When Can the Pope Fire a Bishop?

Historically, the removal of a diocesan bishop has been very rare. More frequently, though still rarely, when faced with papal disapproval, bishops have resigned. Most of the recent cases have been bishops who failed to protect children from bad priests. Others who resigned were involved in sexual or financial improprieties. ...Although the canonical grounds for removing Strickland were laid out by Bishop Juan Ignacio Arrieta, secretary of the Vatican Department for Legislative Texts, questions remain. Sadly, the visitors' report was not made public so everyone could see the grounds for thinking that Strickland had to go.