Albrecht von Boeselager was ousted from his post as grand chancellor at the Knights of Malta after it emerged a condom distribution programme was held in Myanmar under his watch.
Mr Boeselager protested at being sacked by the Knight of Malta's grandmaster, Matthew Festing (pictured above), and argued he had put a stop to the programme as soon as it came to his attention.
The Catholic Church bans the use of contraception but the Pope opened an investigation into Mr Boeselager's dismissal earlier this week.
Mr Festing refused to cooperate with the papal commission investigating his decision to suspend Mr Boeselager and last week offered his resignation.
Defending his refusal to cooperate with the papal commission, Mr Festing cited the Knights of Malta's status as a sovereign entity.
The leadership of the Knights of Malta order take an oath of obedience to the pope.
Mr Boeselager has had all disciplinary procedures against him dropped.