The pope did not accept the resignation of a convicted cardinal: only a retreat

Pope Francis rejected the resignation of Cardinal Philippe Barbarin, sentenced in France for concealing the badual abuse perpetrated against a minor of a priest of his diocese of Lyon, announced today to the prelate that he was he would temporarily retire from his position as president of that jurisdiction. pastoral

"Monday morning, I gave my resignation to the Holy Father, invoking the presumption of innocence, he refused to accept," said Barbarin in a statement issued by the diocese of Lyon, in the center of France.

The Pope "left me the freedom to make the decision that seemed the best for the life of the diocese of Lyon." On his suggestion and because the Lyon Church has been suffering for three years, I decided to retire for a while, "he added, quoted by international news agencies.

Barbarin, 68 years old and head of the diocese of Lyon for 17 years, one of the most traditional in France, was tried this year along with other ecclesiastical indictment leaders, accused not to have denounced the abuses committed by minors against minors. the priest Bernard Preynat for 25 years.

Sentenced to six months in prison, dispensed from justice and sentenced to pay a symbolic allowance of one euro to eight of the victims of Preynat who had denounced, Barbarin went to the Vatican Monday to present his resignation to Pope Francis.

Although Francisco did not accept it, the cardinal pointed out in his note that the personal decision of withdrawal takes effect from this Tuesday and that the direction of the diocese remains in the hands of the vicar general and moderator, Yves Baumgarten .

Acting spokesman for the Vatican, Alessandro Gisotti, confirmed this news in another statement and stressed that "the Holy See is ready to reiterate its closeness to the victims of abuse, the faithful of the world. Archdiocese of Lyon and the whole of the Church of France, you are going through a particularly painful period. "