(ANSA) - Vatican City, October 12 - Pope Francis on Friday
accepted the resignation of Washington Archbishop Donald W.
Wuerl, accused of covering for many paedophile priests when he
was bishop of Pittsburgh.
Cardinal Wuerl, who turns 78 on November 12 and who had been
archbishop of Washington since 2006, is the highest-ranking
prelate involved in recent probes into clerical sex abuse,
including in Pennsylvania.
His involvement in particular concerns the accusation that he
covered up numerous cases of sex abuse by priests when he was
bishop of Pittsburgh from 1988 to 2006.
A recent Pennsylvania report said that over 1,000 minors were
abused by 300 priests over 70 years.
Pope accepts resignation of Wuerl
Ex-Pittsburgh bishop covered up many cases of sex abuse