The Vatican was informed of the accusations of sexual violence against Abbé Pierre, at least ” After [s]to death ” in 2007, assured Pope Francis on Friday September 13 during a press conference, describing the founder of Emmaus as ” terrible sinner “.
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” What did the Vatican of Abbé Pierre ? I don’t know when the Vatican found out about it. (…). I don’t know because I wasn’t here (Pope), and it didn’t occur to me to research that. “, Francis said on board the plane taking him back to Rome on September 13, 2024, upon returning from his tour of Asia-Pacific. The information came ” certainly, after [s]to death, for sure. But before, I don’t know “, he told reporters accompanying him, calling the abbot ” terrible sinner “.
Seven weeks after first revelations accusing him of sexual assaultAbbé Pierre, who died in 2007 at the age of 94, is targeted by 17 new testimonies accusing him of sexual violence allegedly committed between the 1950s and the 2000s.
A file ” very painful »
Pope Francis considered it to be a matter of ” very painful, very delicate “, reports Agence France-Presse. ” Good people, people, people who do good – you quoted Abbé Pierre – Later, despite all the good (he has done), we discover that this person is a terrible sinner. This is our human condition ” said the Argentine Pope in response to a journalist’s question.
” We should not say ”let’s cover it, let’s cover it so it doesn’t show!”. Public sins are public. And they must be condemned. Abbé Pierre is a man who has done so much good, but he is also a sinner. ” he added. François continued: ” We need to be clear about these things, not cover up. Working against assault is something we all need to do. Not just against sexual assault, but against any type of abuse. : social abuse, educational abuse, changing people’s mentality, attacking freedom… Abuse is, in my eyes, a demonic thing. ! »
Denouncing the abuses which “ destroy the dignity of the person “, the head of the Catholic Church said, “ happy when these cases come out (are made public) “, because ” Sexual assault against children and minors is a crime “, “ a shame “.
If the Vatican archives remain silent, those of the Church of France are opening up on the misdeeds of Abbé Pierre, recalls Eric Senanqueour correspondent in Rome. We learn that from the end of the 1950s, the secretary of the French episcopate, Jean Villot, was aware of the facts. He would become the Secretary of State of Pope Paul VI in 1969.
Also readFrance: Documents reveal how Abbé Pierre muzzled those who wanted to denounce him