Vatican City, Jan 30, 2018 / 07:25 am
After recently affirming his support for a Chilean bishop accused of covering up sexual abuse, Pope Francis has named a delegate to examine information that, the Vatican said, has since been brought forward.
According to a Jan. 30 Vatican statement, "following some information recently received regarding the case of Juan de la Cruz Barros Madrid," the Pope has asked Archbishop Charles J. Scicluna of Malta to travel to Santiago "to listen to those who have expressed the desire to submit items in their possession."
In addition to overseeing the Diocese of Malta, Scicluna in 2015 was named by the Pope to oversee the doctrinal team charged with handling appeals filed by clergy accused of abuse in the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith. Scicluna served as the congregation's Promoter of Justice for 17 years, beginning in 1995. He is widely regarded for his expertise in the canonical norms governing allegations of sexual abuse.
The Pope's decision to send Scicluna to Santiago follows comes after fresh controversy on the appointment arose during Pope Francis' Jan. 15-18 visit to Chile.