Pope Francis Reveals Vatican Was Aware of Abbe Pierre's 'Sexual Abuse'

The leader of the world's Catholics, in response to revelations about the 'sexual abuse' by Abbe Pierre, the most famous Christian cleric of the 20th century in France, disclosed that the Vatican had been aware of his actions at least since Abbe Pierre's death in 2007. Pope Francis also described Abbe Pierre as a 'terrible sinner.' A few weeks after the uproar regarding the allegations against Abbe Pierre, who is highly regarded for his humanitarian efforts for the homeless, the highest-ranking official in the Catholic Church has now reacted to this case. On Friday, during his return flight from East Asia, Pope Francis told reporters, 'Good people, those who do good work - you mentioned Abbe Pierre, who despite all the good he did, turned out to be a terrible sinner. This is our human condition. We should not say, 'Let’s cover it up, let’s hide it so it doesn’t get seen.' He emphasized, 'Public sins are public and must be condemned.' Following revelations in July by seven women who claimed they were sexually abused by Abbe Pierre, 17 new testimonies were published last Friday. According to these testimonies, one of the victims of Abbe Pierre's sexual violence was eight years old at the time of the abuse. The Pope warned that sexual abuse of children and minors is a crime and that action must be taken not only against sexual abuse but any type of abuse. He stated, 'For example, Abbe Pierre was a man who did good works, but he was also guilty. We must speak clearly about these things, not hide them. Fighting against abuse is something we all must participate in, not only against sexual abuse but against all types of abuse.' The revelations about Abbe Pierre's 'sexual violence,' a religious symbol in France, raise the question of why some of his associates, despite being aware of his abuses, refrained from speaking the truth during his lifetime. These abuses continued from 1950 to 2000, a span of half a century, and according to the Pope, the Vatican was also aware of them. The leader of the world's Catholics said, 'What did the Vatican know about Abbe Pierre? I don’t know when the Vatican became aware. I don’t know because I wasn’t here at that time, and it never occurred to me to investigate this matter. They certainly knew after Abbe Pierre's death, for sure. But whether they knew before his death, I have no information.' Veronique Fayet, the former head of the charity 'Catholic Relief,' commented on why this silence existed regarding Abbe Pierre, stating that he became increasingly saint-like and untouchable due to his strong personality and brotherly behavior. She added, 'For a victim, complaining about a saint can turn into a complaint against the victim themselves.' Mr. Pierre, who died in 2007, was not only a religious figure but also a significant symbol in France for social struggles. He was a member of the French Resistance during World War II and was repeatedly praised by the country's presidents. Seventeen years after his death, he still has many supporters among Christians and even among non-believers due to his humanitarian work. Forced kisses, repeated sexual contact with physically disabled individuals, sexual contact with children, and sexually charged statements are among the new testimonies against Abbe Pierre. According to these testimonies, these incidents occurred between 1950 and 2000, and victims have also testified from the United States, Morocco, and Switzerland. These individuals include employees of places where Abbe Pierre stayed, close family members of the priest, or even ordinary people who encountered him during public events and meetings.