KANSAS CITY (MO)
The Kansas City Star

BY JUDY L. THOMAS
jthomas@kcstar.com

When Pope Francis arrives next week for his first U.S. visit as pontiff, former Kansas City bishop Robert Finn will not be among the Catholic prelates gathering to welcome him.

Finn, who resigned as leader of the Catholic Diocese of Kansas City-St. Joseph in April in the aftermath of a priest sex abuse scandal, is out of the country on a month-long pilgrimage in Spain.

The diocese confirmed Finn’s whereabouts after The Star received reports of sightings of the bishop along the Camino de Santiago, an ancient passage in Spain that has been traveled by kings, popes and even movie stars.

Diocesan spokesman Jack Smith said Finn was expected to return to Kansas City at the end of the month. That means Finn will be out of the country for the pope’s U.S. visit. Francis arrives…