Washington D.C., Oct 3, 2019 / 13:30 pm
The Holy See has announced that Bishop Nicholas DiMarzio of Brooklyn will lead an Apostolic Visitation of the Diocese of Buffalo.
The visitation, a canonical inspection and fact-finding mission, was ordered by Cardinal Marc Ouellet of the Congregation of Bishops in Rome, the Vatican department responsible for overseeing the personal conduct of bishops.
A notice issued by the Apostolic Nunciature in Washington, DC, on Thursday confirmed that the visitation was "non-judicial and non-administrative," meaning that no formal charges are currently being considered against the scandal-plagued Bishop Richard Malone of Buffalo.
The nunciature also said that the visitation had not been ordered under the provisions of Vos estis lux mundi, the policy document on sexual abuse and diocesan administration issued May 7 by Pope Francis, which came into effect June 1.