Three weeks after a report implicating him in his handling of sexual assaults on minors in the Archdiocese of Munich, which he led in the early 1980s, the Vatican published a letter from the pope emeritus in which he reiterated his “shame and apologize to the victims.
” In all my encounters with victims of sexual abuse by priests, especially during my many apostolic journeys, I have looked into the eyes of the consequences of a very great fault. “says Benedict XVI in this letter written in German and dated this Tuesday, February 6.
A text in which the former Archbishop of Munich, then Joseph Ratzinger, expresses his ” deep shame, great pain and sincere request for forgiveness towards all victims of sexual assault, relates our correspondent at the Vatican, Eric Senanque.
According to the report by the firm Westpfahl Spilker Wastl (WSW) listing more than 400 victims of sexual violence in the archdiocese of Munich and Freising, Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger, before he became pope, was aware of the paedocriminal past of a priest, Peter Hullermann.
Advisers to pope emeritus refute any cover-up of abuse
In a document also released by the Vatican on Tuesday, advisers to the pope emeritus refute the accusations in the 8,000-page report they sifted through for him. ” As Archbishop, Cardinal Ratzinger was not involved in any acts of cover-up of abuse “, assure these four advisers, referring to information” inaccurate contained in the German report.
” I can only express, once again, with regard to all the victims of sexual abuse, my deep shame, my great pain and my sincere request for forgiveness. I had great responsibilities in the Catholic Church. My pain is all the greater for the abuses and errors that have occurred during my tenure in different places said former Pope Benedict XVI, who was archbishop of Munich from 1977 to 1982, then pope from 2005 to 2013.
Benedict XVI also believes that he was hurt by accusations of lies and thanks pope francis for his support. ” Soon I will face the ultimate judge of my life “, can we read twice in this letter, an expression which gives accents of testament to the pope emeritus. The latter will celebrate his 95th birthday next April. He is currently living in retirement in a former monastery in the Vatican.
►To reread : In Italy, the fight against sexual abuse in the Church is still a long way
(and with AFP)