Secret archives, Cardinal Pell and the slow progress of the sex abuse summit

This week on “Inside the Vatican,” Gerry O’Connell and I update you on what has been happening since the sexual abuse summit.

First, we take a look at the handbook that the Vatican is putting together on how to handle cases of sexual abuse, and how to put the proper structures in place in each diocese. Gerry and I also examine why Pope Francis is opting for a slower pace of reform—and whether this route can be more effective in the long run in preventing the abuse of minors and vulnerable adults.

Just after the abuse summit, an Australian court’s gag order was lifted, revealing that Cardinal George Pell had been found guilty of sexual abuse. He now waits in prison until his appeal is heard in June. Meanwhile, the Vatican has opened a canonical investigation of Cardinal Pell. I ask Gerry what it means if the Vatican’s trial reaches a different verdict than the civil trial.

Finally, Pope Francis has opened the Vatican’s secret archives on Pope Pius XII. Gerry explains what these archives contain and why it took so long for these documents to be made available to researchers.

Read more:

• The Vatican summit on the protection of minors is over. What’s next?
• Vatican to open canonical investigation into Cardinal Pell, now in Australian prison
• Pope Francis will open the secret archives on Pope Pius XII

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