rte | Pope Francis has said he will not respond to accusations by a former
top Vatican official that the Pontiff had covered up sexual abuse,
saying that the document containing the allegations "speaks for itself".
He dismissed the 11-page statement, or testimony, from his former Papal Nuncio to the United States Archbishop Carlo Maria Vigano,
which accused the Pope of being aware of serious abuse allegations
against Cardinal Theodore McCarrick, five years before the cardinal
resigned in June.
The Pope told reporters he had read the document but that he "will not say a single word on this".
He said: "I must tell you sincerely that, I must say this, to you and
all those who are interested, read the statement carefully and make
your own judgement."
He added: "I believe the statement speaks for itself. And you have
the journalistic capacity to draw your conclusions. It's an act of
faith. When some time passes and you have drawn your conclusions, I may
speak."
Without going into specifics, the Pope also said: "I would like your
professional maturity to do the work for you. It will be good for you."
In a wide-ranging news conference on board the Aer Lingus flight,
Pope Francis addressed issues ranging from clerical abuse to
homosexuality and migration.
The Pope also said he would study a memorandum provided by the Minister for Children on the issue of mother and baby homes,
telling reporters on his flight from Ireland back to Rome that
Katherine Zappone had informed him that the Catholic Church "had
something to do" with the issue.
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