Bishop Michel Aupetit “can no longer govern” because “his reputation has been damaged” by “gossip”, Pope Francis said on Monday at a press conference, a few days after accepting the resignation of the Archbishop of Paris.
“When the rumor grows, grows, grows and reaches a man’s reputation, he can no longer govern (…) And it is an injustice. This is why I accepted Bishop Aupetit’s resignation, not on the altar of truth but on that of hypocrisy, ”the Pope told reporters on board the plane on his return from his trip to France. Greece.
Breach of the Sixth Commandment
“I wonder: what on earth did Aupetit do that was so serious about resigning? If we do not know the accusation, we cannot condemn ”, declared the Pope, inviting journalists to“ investigate ”. “It’s dangerous to condemn. Who condemned him? Public opinion, rumors? But what did he do? We don’t know, ”he added.
The Pope, however, evoked “a failure” on the part of Bishop Aupetit “to the sixth commandment” (“You will not commit adultery”, note), “not total but small caresses and massages he was doing on his own. Secretary “.
Denial and disavowal
“That’s a sin. But it is not the most serious sin because the sins of the flesh are not the most serious. (…) Thus, Bishop Aupetit is a sinner. As I am, as was Peter, the bishop on whom Christ founded his Church, ”he declared. On Thursday, the Vatican announced that the Pope had accepted the resignation of the Archbishop of Paris, who had been accused in the press of having had an intimate relationship with a woman, which he categorically denied.
Two weeks ago, an article in the French weekly Point affirmed that Michel Aupetit had had in 2012, when he was not yet archbishop, an intimate and consented relationship with a woman. An email sent in error by the prelate left little doubt, according to the weekly, about the nature of their relationship.