Pope Francis speaks out over scandal with Archbishop of Paris: It's a sin, but it's nothing terrible
After Pope Francis accepted the resignation of the Archbishop of Paris Michel Aupetito, he said that he did not do it because the archbishop was wrong, but because the gossip about him put him in a position to no longer be able to run the diocese, writes The Independent.
"Sins as sins are great, but not as great as sins as hatred and pride, the bishop is a victim of 'injustice,'" the pope said. after visiting Cyprus and Greece.
Paris Archbishop Michel Aupetit resigned in late November after being accused in the media of having an intimate relationship with a woman, which he categorically denied.
"It was a failure against the sixth commandment (Do not commit adultery), but not completely, one of the small caresses, the massage he did to his secretary - that is the charge," Francis said.
He added that he had all the details of the incident with the Archbishop of Paris, and said that all people were sinners, including himself.
"Appetite was convicted, but since when? After public opinion, after gossip, he could no longer work. "I have accepted Aupetit's resignation, not on the altar of truth, but on the altar of hypocrisy," he said.