The Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith communicated on 29 January 2019 the resignation of Rev. Fr. Hermann Geissler, FSO, from his office at the same Congregation and the request of the same that the canonical trial be continued, deeming the allegations against him to be false.

The penal administrative trial was carried out at the Apostolic Signatura, to which the Holy Father, upon request by the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, had entrusted the cause. A College was formed consisting of five Members of the Supreme Tribunal itself, who, meeting on 15 May, issued the decree of acquittal of the accused, since following a careful examination of the case, the configuration of the alleged serious crime could not be proven with the due moral certainty.