Europe 1 with AFP 7:57 p.m., December 06, 2021

On Thursday, the Pope accepted the resignation of Michel Aupetit, Archbishop of Paris, who had been accused in the press of having had an intimate relationship with a woman in 2012. At a press conference on Monday, he said denounced an "injustice" and a "condemnation" based on "gossip". 

Monsignor Michel Aupetit "can no longer govern" because "his reputation has been damaged" by "gossip", Pope Francis said at a press conference on Monday, a few days after accepting the resignation of the Archbishop of Paris .

Two weeks ago, an article in the French weekly Le Point affirmed that Michel Aupetit had in 2012, when he was not yet archbishop, an intimate and consented relationship with a woman.

An email sent in error by the prelate left little doubt, according to Le Point, about the nature of their relationship.

Something he had, subsequently, categorically denied.

On Friday, the Archbishop of Paris then presented his resignation to Pope Francis in order to avoid division within his diocese. 

"An injustice"

For the Pope, accepting this resignation is a decision taken reluctantly. "When the rumor grows, grows, grows and reaches the reputation of a man, he can no longer govern (...) And it is an injustice. This is why I accepted the resignation of Monsignor Aupetit , not on the altar of truth but on that of hypocrisy ", he criticized in front of the journalists on board the plane on the return from his trip to Greece, before inviting them to" investigate " on this case. "I wonder: but what did Aupetit do that was so serious to submit his resignation? If we do not know the accusation, we cannot condemn (...) It is dangerous to condemn. Who has it? condemned? Public opinion, rumors? But what has he done? We do not know ",he added indignantly.

"Rumors"

Francis I all the same evoked "a failure" on the part of Mgr Aupetit "to the sixth commandment" ["You will not commit adultery", note].

"Not total but small caresses and massages he gave to his secretary."

"That is a sin. But it is not the most serious sin because the sins of the flesh are not the most serious. (...) Thus, Mgr Aupetit is a sinner. As I am, as was Peter, the bishop on whom Christ founded his Church ", he concluded.