Key dates in pope defending bishop accused of abuse cover-up, by Nicole Winfield, Associated Press (February 05, 2018)

Pope Francis' appointment of Bishop Juan Barros to head the small diocese of Osorno, Chile encountered opposition when it was announced three years ago and has contributed to a credibility crisis for the Chilean Catholic Church in the time since.

Barros was a protege of the Rev. Fernando Karadima, a charismatic priest who was sanctioned by the Vatican in 2011 for sexually abusing minors. Some of the victims allege that Barros witnessed the abuse, placing him at the scene when Karadima kissed and fondled minors. Barros has denied knowing of the abuse or covering up for Karadima.

Francis created an uproar while visiting Chile in January, when he called the accusations against Barros "slander." The pope further insisted he never knew that any of Karadima's victims had come forward. The Associated Press reported Monday that Francis received an eight-page letter in April 2015 that laid out in detail why abuse victim Juan Carlos Cruz thought Barros was unfit to lead a diocese.

Pope names Barros, then Chile's military chaplain, as bishop of Osorno, over the objections of some members of the Chilean bishops' conference. They were concerned about the fallout from the Karadima affair.

Francis acknowledged the bishops' concerns in a letter, which the AP obtained last month. The letter revealed a plan to have Barros and two other Karadima-trained bishops resign and take yearlong sabbaticals, but Francis wrote that it fell apart because the nuncio revealed it. The pope later acknowledged that he had blocked the plan himself because there was no "evidence" Barros was guilty of any cover-up.

Fifty Chilean lawmakers and priests, deacons and more than 1,000 laity in the Osorno diocese sign petitions protesting Barros' appointment and urging Francis revoke it.

Juan Carlos Cruz writes an eight-page letter to the Vatican's ambassador in Santiago, Monsignor Ivo Scapolo, accusing Barros of watching the sex abuse he experienced and doing nothing to stop it. The letter, which Cruz said should be considered a formal complaint, would form the basis of a subsequent letter to the pope.

The Mass installing Barros as bishop of Osorno is marred by violent protests. Black-clad demonstrators storm the church with signs that read, "No to Karadima's accomplice." Ten days later, the Vatican publicly defends Barros, saying it "carefully examined the prelate's candidature and did not find objective reasons to preclude the appointment."

Four members of the pope's Pontifical Commission for the Protection of Minors fly to Rome to meet with Cardinal Sean O'Malley, Francis' top adviser, to raise concerns about Barros' suitability to run a diocese. The commissioners cite the victim testimony that Barros witnessed and ignored abuse. Member Marie Collins hands Cruz's letter to O'Malley, who would go on to tell Collins and Cruz he delivered it to the pope and relayed their concerns.

Pope is filmed in St. Peter's Square telling the spokesman for the Chilean bishops' conference that the Chilean church had become too politicized and the opposition to Barros was coming from "leftists." Francis says: "Osorno suffers, yes, from foolishness, because they don't open their heart to what God says and they let themselves guided by the nonsense all those people say."

Francis arrives in Chile to protests that are unprecedented for a papal visit. During his first public remarks, he apologizes for the "irreparable damage" suffered by all victims of sexual abuse. He meets with two survivors and weeps with them.

While visiting the northern city of Iquique, Francis is asked by a Chilean journalist about Barros and says: "The day they bring me proof against Bishop Barros, I'll speak. There is not one shred of proof against him. It's all calumny. Is that clear?"

Cardinal O'Malley publicly rebukes the pope, saying his words in Iquique "were a source of great pain" for abuse survivors. "Words that convey the message 'if you cannot prove your claims then you will not be believed' abandon those who have suffered reprehensible criminal violations of their human dignity and relegate survivors to discredited exile," O'Malley said.

Francis partially apologizes, saying he shouldn't have used the word "proof" but rather "evidence." During an in-flight news conference, he repeats that accusations against Barros are "slander" and denies any victims had come forward accusing Barros of covering up for Karadima. "I'm convinced he's innocent."

The AP reports the contents of Cruz's letter, which contradict the pope's claim about no victims coming forward. Cruz wrote: "Holy Father, it's bad enough that we suffered such tremendous pain and anguish from the sexual and psychological abuse, but the terrible mistreatment we received from our pastors is almost worse."