After press revelations having attributed to him an affair, the Archbishop of Paris Michel Aupetit proposed to the Pope to submit his resignation to him, according to information from the Figaro confirmed by the diocese of Paris. The diocese of Paris admitted that the prelate had “behaved ambiguously with a person very present vis-à-vis him” in 2012. “He proposed to the Pope to hand in his resignation”, by “a letter sent this week ”, explains the diocese. Only the Pope can decide to accept or reject it.
“Not a romantic relationship” according to the diocese
Wednesday on its website, Point asserted that the archbishop had that year had an intimate and consensual relationship with a woman, referring to an email he had sent in error and which left no doubt, according to the weekly, about the relationship maintained. It was “not a romantic relationship” or a “sexual relationship”, assured the diocese Friday. “He opened up to his hierarchy at the time.”
“I recognize that my behavior towards her may have been ambiguous, thus suggesting the existence between us of an intimate relationship and sexual relations, which I strongly refute”, said Bishop Aupetit. in the article of Point. The resignation request “is not an admission of guilt but a gesture of humility, a provision”, underlined the diocese. Bishop Aupetit made this gesture today “because he understands that there may be a disturbance among the Catholics of the diocese”, added the diocese.