Lively correspondence

Abbé Pierre: Vatican knew of accusation as early as 1959

Abbé Pierre in 1954

(Bild: AP)

According to information from French archives, the Vatican was informed much earlier than previously known about the problematic behavior of the Catholic priest Abbé Pierre, who was recently accused of sexual violence by two dozen women. In 1959, the Vatican had instructed the clergyman to cancel a planned trip to Canada.

The French Bishops' Conference had announced an early opening of the church archives. Journalists discovered numerous documents that refer to a lively exchange of letters between French bishops warning of the clergyman's problematic behavior - but without naming the misconduct.

"Lifelong damage"
 In a letter from 1964, presumably written by the Secretary General of the Bishops' Conference, it is said that Abbé Pierre had "lost all control of himself". "Young girls have suffered lifelong damage."

(Bild: AFP)

Incidents of sexual violence against Abbé Pierre, which are said to have occurred between the 1950s and the 2000s, came to light last summer. Several of the women involved were minors at the time of the incidents.

We must assume that all this may become public knowledge and that the public will then be surprised that the Catholic hierarchy always had confidence in Abbé Pierre.

Text in einem Schreiben von 1958

Foundation wants to change name
The Abbé Pierre Foundation assured those affected of its "complete support" and announced that it would no longer bear the name of its founder. The Emmaus aid organization, which is now active in more than 40 countries, closed a memorial to the priest in Esteville, France.

France shocked after accusations
The accusations caused a shock wave in France. Abbé Pierre, who died in 2007 at the age of 94, had been one of the most popular personalities in France for decades.

Born in Lyon in 1912, Henri Grouès joined the Capuchin order at the age of 20 and was later active in the French resistance movement during the Second World War. His name "Abbé Pierre" comes from this time. In 1949, he founded the organization Emmaus, which cared for the poor and homeless.