Pope rejects resignation of French Cardinal Philippe Barbarin after sex abuse cover-up
- Barbarin said he would step back from his job in Lyon, allowing a local vicar general to run day-to-day affairs
Pope Francis has rejected the resignation of French Cardinal Philippe Barbarin, who was handed a six-month suspended sentence this month for failing to report sex abuse by a priest under his authority, the cardinal said on Tuesday.
The pope’s decision, which was confirmed by the Vatican, triggered surprise from the chairman of the Bishops’ Conference of France, who termed the situation “unheard of”.
“Monday morning, I handed over my mission to the Holy Father. He spoke of the presumption of innocence and did not accept this resignation,” Barbarin, who has appealed his sentence, said in a statement from his see in the southeastern city of Lyon.
Barbarin said he would stay in Lyon pending his appeal, but “for a little while” he would step back from his job, allowing, at the pope’s “suggestion”, local vicar general Yves Baumgarten to run day-to-day affairs.
The 68-year-old is the most senior French cleric caught up in the global paedophilia scandal that has rocked the Catholic Church.
