VATICAN CITY
Holy See
November 10, 2020
I. INTRODUCTION
A. Scope and Nature of the Report Related to Former Cardinal Theodore Edgar McCarrick
On 6 October 2018, the Holy Father ordered a thorough study of the
documentation present in the Archives of the Dicasteries and Offices of the
Holy See regarding McCarrick, in order to ascertain all the relevant facts, to
place them in their historical context and to evaluate them objectively.
The examination of documents was undertaken in compliance with the
instructions of the Holy Father and under the auspices of the Secretariat of
State. No limit was placed on the examination of documents, the questioning
of individuals or the expenditure of resources necessary to carry out the
investigation. The Secretariat of State, having now concluded its
examination, sets forth the results in this Report on the Holy See’s
Institutional Knowledge and Decision-Making Related to Former Cardinal
Theodore Edgar McCarrick (1930 to 2017) (“Report”). The Report is
released to the public pursuant to the Holy Father’s instruction in this
exceptional case for the good of the Universal Church.
This Report is based upon review of all relevant documents located after a
diligent search. Within the Roman Curia, information was primarily obtained
from the Secretariat of State, the Congregation for Bishops, the
Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, the Congregation for Clergy and
the Congregation for Divine Worship and the Discipline of the Sacraments.
All relevant documents of the Apostolic Nunciature to the United States were
also examined. While an explanation of the various roles and functions of
the named dicasteries and officials is beyond the scope of the Report, an
understanding of such matters, including the distinctions between the
competencies of the dicasteries, is critical to comprehend the decisionmaking
process described below.
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