Claim links late pope to row over shielded paedophile

Spanish media are quoting a retired Vatican cardinal as saying the late Pope John Paul backed his letter congratulating a French bishop for risking jail by shielding a priest convicted of paedophilia.

Websites of La Verdad and other Spanish newspapers today reported Cardinal Dario Castrillon Hoyos told an audience at a Catholic university in Murcia, Spain, that he consulted with John Paul and showed him the letter.

He claimed the pontiff authorised him to send the letter to bishops worldwide.

The 2001 letter praised Bishop Pierre Pican, who received a three-month suspended prison sentence for concealing knowledge about the clergyman.

Rene Bissey was sentenced to 18 years for sexually abusing 11 boys.

La Verdad said the audience at Universidad Catolica de Murcia applauded the cardinal’s remarks.