Cardinal Ouellet resigns from the Congregation for Bishops

In a statement released Monday, Cardinal Ouellet said he will be leaving office on April 12, but will remain in the service of the Church. He will continue the work carried out last year in Rome in the framework of the International Symposium on the Priesthood.

After more than twelve years as head of the Archbishopric, three of which are past the age limit normally expected to exercise this function, the time has come for me to take on new challenges.did he say.

The 78-year-old clergyman was three years past the normal retirement age for bishops. Despite this, his term was extended by three years in 2020.

Cardinal Ouellet was appointed president of the Synod of Bishops in 2010 by Benedict XVI. He was one of the few rulers of the Vatican to hold office since Pope Francis took the throne, which was widely seen as a sign of the Holy Father’s confidence in the Quebec cleric.

Allegations of sexual misconduct

Cardinal Ouellet’s departure comes in a controversial context. His name notably appeared last year in the Teamwork Targeting all sexual assaults allegedly committed by persons under the jurisdiction of the Archdiocese of Quebec since 1940.

The Vatican, which had previously conducted an investigation into this case, Since then he has refused to release a new one.

He sued for defamationthe alleged victim He came out of the shadows Three weeks ago. Pamela Grolio accuses Marc Ouellet of doing inappropriate things to her between 2008 and 2010, when he was Archbishop of Quebec.

Complaint from another woman A case has been filed against the Cardinal of Quebec, as we learned two weeks ago, prompting the concerned director to do so He breaks his silence.

Either way, Marc Ouell, who has twice been acquitted by the Vatican, strongly disputes the allegations.