The Vatican announced on Friday the opening of a preliminary investigation after the revelations of a new sexual assault scandal by French Cardinal Jean-Pierre Ricard.

The latter admitted to having had, 35 years ago, “reprehensible conduct with a 14-year-old girl”.

“Following the elements that have emerged in recent days and following the declaration of Cardinal Jean-Pierre Ricard, in order to complete the examination of what happened, it was decided to open an investigatio previa (preliminary investigation) “, indicated to the journalists the director of the press service of the Holy See, Matteo Bruni.

“We are currently evaluating the person best suited to lead it, with the necessary autonomy, impartiality and experience, also taking into account the fact that the French judicial authorities have opened a file on this case” , he added.

An investigation opened by the Marseille prosecutor's office

On Tuesday, the Marseille prosecutor's office announced that it had opened a preliminary investigation after the confessions of the ex-archbishop of Bordeaux, retired since 2019 in the Alpes-de-Haute-Provence (south-eastern France), which provoked a new earthquake in the Church.

“35 years ago, when I was a parish priest, I behaved in a reprehensible way with a 14-year-old girl.

My behavior has necessarily caused serious and lasting consequences for this person”, wrote the cardinal, now 78, without giving more details on the facts of which he incriminates himself while he was stationed in Marseille. .

These statements came the day after the surprise announcement by the French episcopate that 11 bishops or former bishops had had to deal with civil justice or the justice of the Church for sexual "abuse" or their "non-denunciation" Mgr Ricard , who has the right to vote in the event of a conclave, is a member of the powerful dicastery - equivalent to a ministry in the government of the Holy See - for the doctrine of the faith, responsible in particular for cases of sexual violence against minors.

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Bordeaux: Former Archbishop Jean-Pierre Ricard admits "reprehensible conduct" on a 14-year-old minor

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11 bishops or former bishops “implicated” in the context of sexual violence

  • child crime

  • Church

  • Vatican

  • Bordeaux

  • Gironde

  • Aquitaine

  • sexual assault

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