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At the Vatican, Cardinal Angelo Sodano, Dean of the College of Cardinals, resigned at the age of 92. This weighty figure of the Roman Curia drags a sulphurous reputation, associated in particular with the culture of secrecy on sexual abuse in the Church.
With our Vatican correspondent, Éric Sénanque
With the departure of Angelo Sodano, an entire era closes at the Curia. That embodied by this nonagenarian Italian who was for many years one of the most powerful men in the Catholic Church. Bishop and apostolic nuncio from 1978, then secretary of state of the Holy See of John Paul II for 15 years, from 1990 to 2005, he was a key man in the pontificate of the Polish pope.
Sexual abuse scandals
A fine diplomat, he accompanied John Paul II on more than fifty trips around the world. In recent years, a more murky light has highlighted the power of the Piedmontese cardinal, as scandals of sexual abuse have splashed the Church. During his omnipotence, Angelo Sodano was one of the protectors of Marcial Maciel, the pedophile founder of the Legionaries of Christ and at the time opposed Cardinal Ratzinger, future Benedict XVI.
His responsibility for stifling sexual scandals in the Chilean Church is also pointed out, he who was apostolic nuncio in Santiago for eleven years. Since 2005, he was the dean of the college of cardinals responsible in particular for chairing meetings during the conclaves, even if he was no longer of age to be a voter.
► Also read: Pedophilia : Vatican number three convicted of sexual assault
Chance or not on the calendar, Cardinal Sodano's exit from the scene comes only a few days after Pope Francis' decision to lift the pontifical secret on cases of sexual abuse.