Rome Newsroom, Nov 7, 2022 / 09:00 am
A French cardinal said on Monday that he had abused a 14-year-old girl several decades ago and was making himself available to authorities.
Cardinal Jean-Pierre Ricard said in a statement: “Thirty-five years ago, when I was a parish priest, I behaved in a reprehensible way with a young girl aged 14. My behavior has inevitably led to grave and lasting consequences for this person.”
Ricard added he was withdrawing from his functions and had spoken to the victim about the abuse.
“I renew here my request for forgiveness and also ask her entire family for forgiveness,” he said.