Pope Francis has authorised a “thorough study” of Vatican archives into how a prominent American cardinal advanced through church ranks despite allegations that he slept with young priests.
The Vatican issued a statement saying it was aware that such an investigation may produce evidence “that choices were taken that would not be consonant with a contemporary approach to such issues”.
The statement did not address allegations that Francis himself knew of sexual misconduct allegations against now ex-Cardinal Theodore McCarrick in 2013 and rehabilitated him anyway.
Francis has said he would not say a word about those allegations.
The Vatican knew as early as 2000 that seminarians reported McCarrick pressured them to sleep with him.
