Reactions after Pope Francis’s decision to send a top prosecutor to Chile

ROME
CRUX

February 1, 2018

By Inés San Martín

ROME – Catholics from Chile welcomed Pope Francis’s decision to send a representative to the country to look into the case of Bishop Juan Barros, accused by victims of clerical sexual abuse of covering up the crimes of pedophile priest Fernando Karadima, who the Vatican found guilty of abusing minors in 2011.

Barros himself has been quoted saying he welcomes “with faith and joy” whatever the pontiff decides.

Chilean Cardinal Ricardo Ezzati also welcomed Francis’s decision to send Archbishop Charles J. Scicluna of Malta to listen to those who’ve “manifested their will to make known elements they possess.”

Ezzati called the move “opportune,” and believed that it will lead to a “more complete process.”

“We’re very happy with the decision and I think it is very opportune […] he comes, as the pope said, to look for the elements that the people want to offer to him for a more complete process,” said the prelate, Archbishop of Santiago, in a statement made available by Biobiochile.

Barros, who together with three other bishops has been accused by the victims of Karadima of covering up for the abuse committed by him, was not in his diocese when the news was announced by the Vatican’s press office on Tuesday.

However, through a statement released by his diocese, Osorno, the bishop said that he “welcomes with faith and joy everything the pope decides,” and asked “God for the truth to shine, and invoking especially to the Holy Virgin Mary that everyone reaches peace.”

Later that same day, diocesan spokesperson, Jaime Coiro, told reporters that Scicluna’s mission to Chile “demonstrates” that during the pope’s recent visit to Chile he had “an attitude of true listening and closeness to the reality and challenges of Chilean society and of the Church.”

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