The Vatican accepts the resignation of the Archbishop of Paris, accused of having had an intimate affair

The Vatican has accepted the resignation of the Archbishop of Paris, Mgr Michel Aupetit, the Vatican announced in a statement Thursday, December 2, adding that an apostolic administrator has been appointed head of the diocese of Paris. 

"The Holy Father accepted the resignation (..) presented by Bishop Michel Aupetit and at the same time appointed Bishop Georges Pontier apostolic administrator" of the Archdiocese of Paris, the Vatican said. 

An intimate relationship with a woman involved 

At the end of November, Bishop Aupetit handed in his resignation to the Pope after being accused in the press of having had an intimate relationship with a woman, which he categorically denied. 

In a separate statement on Thursday, the Conference of Bishops of France confirmed the pope's decision, communicated according to it by the apostolic nunciature (Vatican embassy in France), as well as the appointment of Georges Pontier, archbishop emeritus of Marseille, to the post. of apostolic administrator of Paris. 

Appointed in 2017, Bishop Aupetit, 70, had in 2012 "an ambiguous behavior with a very present person vis-à-vis him", admitted the diocese.

It was "not a romantic relationship" or a "sexual relationship", the diocese assured AFP, adding that the archbishop "had opened up to his hierarchy at the time" . 

Conservative positions 

Michel Aupetit was promoted auxiliary bishop in 2013. Only one year later, he inherited a diocese in full, that of Nanterre.

Three and a half years later, in 2017, the one who dreamed of being a "country priest" was made the head of the most urban of the dioceses. 

The archbishop, who had to deal with the fire of Notre-Dame de Paris in 2019, is known for his strict positions on the family and bioethics - he notably regularly supported the "marches for life" hostile to the Abortion. 

He also had a problem with homosexuals in 2012 during the debates on "marriage for all". 

  With AFP

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