Cardinal Barbarin urged by Pontiff to remain despite calls for resignation

May 20, 2016

Pope Francis met on May 20 with Cardinal Philippe Barbarin of Lyon, France, and encouraged him to continue in office, dismissing public calls for his resignation because of his alleged failure to act on sex-abuse complaints.

Cardinal Barbarin-- who has consistently defending his record, saying that he took action as soon as he was aware of abuse complaints-- told Le Figaro that the Pope "advised me to wait quietly" while an investigation is conducted. When asked whether he would consider resignation, the French prelate replied:

For now, that would not be responsible; it would be contrary to my duty. One does not desert ship in the middle of a storm!

Last week, when he was questioned about Cardinal Barbarin's status, Pope Francis gave a similar answer, saying that it would be "an imprudence" for the cardinal to step down. 

 

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Further information:

• Affaires de pédophilie: le pape François a reçu le cardinal Barbarin (Le Figaro)
• Le cardinal Barbarin : «On ne quitte pas le navire en pleine tempête !» (Le Figaro)
• Pope weighs in on Islam, embattled French cardinal, SSPX (CWN, 5/17)