Archbishop Charles Scicluna looks on during a press conference prior to a meeting with people who claim to have been victims of sexual abuse by members of the Church, in Santiago, Chile, Tuesday, Feb. 20, 2018. Scicluna, arrived in Chile on Monday, sent by the Pope Francis to gather testimonies accusing the Archbishop of Osorno of covering up sexual abuses committed by priest Fernando Karadima. (AP Photo/ Luis Hidalgo)
Republished February 28, 2018 - 1:22 PM
Original Publication Date February 28, 2018 - 12:36 PM
SANTIAGO, Chile - The Vatican's sex crimes investigator has ended his mission in Chile, and Roman Catholic officials say he plans to deliver a report to the pope on a Chilean bishop who has been accused of ignoring sex abuse by a priest.
Archbishop Charles Scicluna closed his visit Wednesday with a message expressing gratitude for "the welcome of the Chilean people" and also thanking abuse victims for meeting with him.
The statement came a day after Scicluna interviewed several victims of sex abuse by members of the Marist Brothers religious order, a development that suggested his mandate had expanded beyond looking into allegations of a coverup by Osorno Bishop Juan Barros.
Victims of pedophile priest Fernando Karadima have said that as a priest Barros witnessed and ignored the abuse. Barros denies that.
News from © The Associated Press, 2018