Pope Francis will not open a canonical trial against Quebec Cardinal Marc Ouellet

Canadian Cardinal Marc Ouellet, here in 2013. AFP / File

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The Canadian prelate is accused of sexual assaults he allegedly committed when he was Archbishop of Quebec.

A Vatican investigation reports a lack of evidence to incriminate the cardinal.

But the gray areas remain and cast doubt on the real will of the sovereign pontiff to face the problem.

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With our correspondent in Rome,

“

”, underlined the spokesperson for the Holy See in a short press release yesterday afternoon.

"F" is the name of this complainant who

of having " 

 " her and " 

 " along her back "

 ".

The Holy See recalled that Pope Francis, alerted by this affair, last year appointed a Belgian Jesuit, Jacques Servais, to conduct an investigation and receive the testimony of the complainant.

But according to his report, there is no reason to bring a lawsuit against the current prefect of the dicastery for bishops. 

Several elements nevertheless remain troubling: an expert in theology, Father Servais is not known for his expertise on issues of sexual assault.

Above all, he is close to Cardinal Ouellet, which raises an obvious question about his impartiality.

The Ouellet affair is therefore a serious thorn in the side of Pope Francis, three weeks after his trip to Canada where he asked for forgiveness for the sexual assaults committed on indigenous peoples. 

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• Vatican

• Pope Francis