Brazilian archbishop who allegedly shielded paedophile priests resigns
A Brazilian archbishop has resigned after he was accused of shielding sexually abusive priests.
Pope Francis accepted the resignation of the archbishop of Paraiba, Monsignor Aldo di Cillo Pagotto, under the article of canon law that allows bishops to retire early for "grave" reasons that make them unfit for office.
#URGENTE El papa Francisco acepta renuncia del arzobispo brasileño Aldo Di Cillo Pagotto por escándalo de pederastia pic.twitter.com/7sYSyz3TyT
— EL DEBER (@grupoeldeber) July 6, 2016
Francis appointed an administrator to run the archdiocese until a replacement is found.
In a farewell letter, Monsignor Pagotto admitted he had made mistakes and that he had accepted into the archdioceses priests and seminarians who had committed "serious errors".
He blamed his own "merciful ingenuousness" and said he did so because he wanted to give them a second chance.
Francis recently issued new procedures to expel bishops who shield paedophiles, but they do not go into effect until September.
