Man admitted to having had a “reprehensible” behavior towards a minor young girl.
Le Monde with afp
After the revelation of a new scandal of sexual assault on minor, the Vatican announced, Friday, November 11, the opening of a preliminary investigation. It concerns French Cardinal Jean-Pierre Ricard, who admitted to having had a “reprehensible driving with a 14-year-old girl” thirty-five years ago. “My behavior necessarily caused serious and sustainable consequences in this person,” wrote the Cardinal, now 78, without giving more details on the facts that had taken place when he was stationed Marseille.
“Following the elements that have appeared in recent days and following the declaration of Cardinal Jean-Pierre Ricard, in order to complete the examination of what happened, it was decided to open An investigatio previa (“preliminary investigation”), “told journalists the director of the press service of the Holy See, Matteo Bruni.
The Vatican therefore follows the steps of the Marseille prosecution which also opened a preliminary investigation aimed at “initially checking the exact nature of the facts denounced as well as their dating”. The prosecution also specified that Cardinal Jean-Pierre Ricard, former bishop of Bordeaux, retired since 2019, had recognized with the bishop of Nice having “embraced” a young girl. “No complaints” has yet been filed, said the prosecution.
Jean-Pierre Ricard, former bishop of Bordeaux, retired since 2019, provoked a new earthquake in the Church with his declarations. “Thirty-five years ago, when I was parish priest, I behaved in a reprehensible way with a 14-year-old girl. My behavior necessarily caused serious and lasting consequences in this person,” wrote Cardinal , now 78 years old, without giving more details on the facts he in scripted and which had taken place when he was in office in Marseille.