Pope Francis has removed two cardinals from his inner circle following allegations of sexual abuse against them. Two cardinals having being demoted by the Vatican are Australia’s George Pell and Chile’s Francisco Javier Errazuriz.
They will no longer sit on the Council of Cardinals, set up by the pope as an international advice body, reported BBC. The two had attended the last meeting of Council of Cardinals when it met in September this year.
Vatican spokesman Greg Burke was quoted by news agency Reuters, “The Holy See has the utmost respect for Australian judiciary. We are aware that a suppression order is in place (on media reporting on judicial procedures) and we intend to respect it.”
The Pope has already written to both of them to thank them.
While Cardinal Peil, also the Vatican’s treasurer, has been accused of sexual abuse in Australia, Cardinal Errazuriz is alleged to have covered up child abuse allegations while serving as Archbishop of Santiago. Both have denied allegations made against them.
