The Cardinal and Archbishop of Santiago leaves his post to cover up sexual abuse – 24/03/2019

Not to mention sensitive issues and with a speech of gratitude to Pope Francis, Cardinal Ricardo Ezzati, one of the leading leaders of the Chilean Church, left office on Sunday. Ezzati, 77, is archbishop of Santiago and has been questioned for covering up badual abuse in his diocese.

Justice accuses him of concealing at least three cases of abuse committed by religious. Pope Francis had accepted the resignation of Ezzati on Saturday, who left his post this Sunday after a homily at Santiago Cathedral. In his message, he welcomed the Spanish priest Celestino Aos, 73, a new administrator appointed by the Vatican.

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"With a clear conscience, I ask forgiveness for my weaknesses and weaknesses, and I am confident in the mercy of God, I believe deeply in truth and justice," Ezzati told Santiago Cathedral. In his farewell speech, he also thanked his collaborators and Pope Francis for their decision, welcoming Celestino Aos.

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The President of Chile, Sebastián Piñera, said the departure of Ezzati was "good" for the Catholic Church because it involved a "change" of the institution. Now, Ezzati will face judicial investigations of concealment charges.

For one of these causes, who investigates the violation of a person in the cathedral of Santiago de ChileEzzati is scheduled to appear this week at the National Prosecutor's Office. The other cause concerns the concealment of Oscar Muñoz, chancellor of the archdiocese and responsible for the investigation of badual crimes. Muñoz admitted to having abused minors.

Ezzati comes from the order of the Salesians and was born in Italy. He was appointed bishop by John Paul II in 1996. In 2010, Pope Benedict XVI appointed him Archbishop of Santiago de Chile. In 2014, Pope Francis named him cardinal.

As for Celestino Aos, a 73-year-old Capuchin priest of Spanish origin who, until Saturday, was bishop of the city of Copiapó (located 700 km north of Santiago de Chile), he resumed his duties. Aos has been living in Chile for over thirty years.

Sexual abuse has marked the Chilean church lately. The National Prosecutor's Office of Chile investigates 219 Chilean religious in 158 cases of badual abuse of 241 victims, including 123 minors of age at the time of the events. In January 2018, during the Pope's visit to Chile, the case of the priest Fernando Karadima, who was very influential in the country's social elite, was broadcast. At first, Francisco publicly defended him, but then changed his position and in September 2018 he expelled him from the church. All Chilean bishops then resigned before Francisco, who accepted the resignation of seven bishops.

For all this, Aos has promised to badist "those who are victims of abuse of their dignity, abuse and unjustifiable and intolerable crimes committed by clerics." Makeup settings are not enough. We need reforms and profound changes. "

Source: AP agencies, EFE