Following compromising revelations, Archbishop of Paris Michel Aupetit has written a letter to Pope Francis asking the Pontiff to decide on the future of the Paris diocese
Newsroom (27/11/2021 12:15, Gaudium Press) The Archbishop of Paris, Monsignor Michel Aupetit, has forwarded a letter to Pope Francis in which he asks the Pontiff to decide on his future and the future of the diocese of Paris.
The letter comes a few days after the French newspaper “Le Point” revealed an “ambiguous relationship” between the Archbishop and a woman in 2012. The information comes from an email the Archbishop sent by mistake that would make clear his relationship with the woman.
Archbishop acknowledges ambiguous behaviour
The Archbishop denies any amorous or sexual involvement, but admitted that his behaviour towards the woman could have been ambiguous and raising assumptions about a more intimate relationship between the two.
The Archdiocese of Paris explained that the “resignation” letter is not an acknowledgement of guilt, but an act of humility, as the Archbishop recognises that some Catholics in the diocese may have been shocked.
However, Archbishop Aupetit specified to another journal that he did not use the word resignation in the letter. “Resignation would be tantamount to saying that I abdicate my function. In fact, I deliver it into the hands of the Holy Father, because it was he who delivered it to me. I did it to preserve the diocese, because as bishop, I must be at the service of unity.”
The Archbishop said he explained his situation to Cardinal Marc Ouellet and the Apostolic Nuncio in France, Archbishop Celestino Migliore.
Archbishop denies having asked for resignation
According to another French newspaper, an e-mail would have been sent to the priests of the diocese, explaining that the Archbishop’s letter to the Pope is not a request for resignation, contrary to what the newspapers are reporting.
In any case, only Pope Francis can accept or deny Msgr. Aupetit’s resignation. The decision could take a few weeks.
Michel Aupetit, was a doctor for eleven years before embracing the priesthood. He was ordained at the age of 44 in 1995. In 2013, he was appointed auxiliary bishop of the Archdiocese of Paris and in 2017 he took over as archbishop. (FM)