Vatican announced today the opening of a preliminary investigation into the discovery of a new scandal sexual abuse French Cardinal Jean-Pierre Ricard, who 35 years ago admitted to “reprehensible (behavior)” in relation to “a 14-year-old girl.”

“After the evidence that has been discovered in the last few days, and after the statement of Cardinal Jean-Pierre Ricard, in order to complete the investigation of what happened, it was decided to start an Investigatio previa (preliminary investigation),” the director said. Matteo Bruni told the press of the Holy See about it.

“We are in the process of evaluating the most suitable person to lead the investigation, with the necessary autonomy, impartiality and experience, as well as the fact that the French judiciary has filed a case against this case,” he added.

On Tuesday, the Marseille prosecutor’s office announced the opening of a preliminary investigation after the confessions of the former archbishop of Bordeaux, who has been retired since 2019 in the Alpes-de-Haute-Provence region in southeastern France, caused a new earthquake in the temple.

“35 years ago, when I was a priest, I behaved reprehensibly with a 14-year-old girl. My behavior has caused this man serious and lasting consequences,” wrote the cardinal, now 78, without giving further details about the events he blames himself for during his service in Marseille.

The remarks come a day after the French diocese’s surprise announcement that 11 bishops and former bishops were facing civil or ecclesiastical courts for sexual “abuse” or “failure to report” it.

Ricard, who has the right to vote in the conclave, is a member of a powerful body – the equivalent of a ministry in the government of the Holy See – for doctrinal matters, mainly responsible for cases of sexual abuse of minors.

Common law litigation usually commences after the case has been dismissed by the respective country’s judiciary. At the end of the civil process, the Church may request documents from the judiciary for inclusion in its own assessment.

^{Source: APE-MEB, AFP.}