Pope faces renewed attack over ‘cover-up’ of cardinal sex scandal

A VATICAN whistleblower who has accused Pope Francis of having covered up sexually abusive behaviour by an American cardinal stepped up his attack yesterday while speaking from a secret location.

Archbishop Carlo Mario Vigano, a former Vatican ambassador to the US, claimed that the Pope failed to act against Cardinal Theodore Mccarrick, who was accused of abusing young priests over decades.

Cardinal Mccarrick resigned in disgrace last month, becoming the first cardinal to step down since 1927.

Archbishop Vigano, 77, released an 11-page document detailing the allegations at the weekend and called on Francis to resign.

He then went underground amid reports that he feared for his safety.

After days of silence, he gave an interview from an undisclosed location to an Italian journalist, renewing his criticism of Francis’s papacy.

“I spoke out because corruption has now reached the highest levels of the Church hierarchy,” he said, claiming

‘It seems like an obvious move by conservatives to delegitimise Francis. It was carefully coordinated’

that he had received broad support for his actions.

“I have had messages from priests and the faithful who have thanked me because my testimony was for them a glimmer of hope for the Church.”

He denied that he was pursuing a vendetta against Pope Francis and cardinals close to him.

Vatican analysts say that the attack appears to be part of a concerted effort by conservatives to oust Pope Francis, who they dislike for his relatively liberal views on issues such as acceptance of homosexuals, allowing divorcees to take Communion and his push for a more inclusive Church.

“It really seems like an obvious move by conservatives to delegitimise Francis,” David Gibson, director of the Centre on Religion and Culture at Fordham University in New York told Reuters.

“This whole thing was carefully coordinated with conservative Catholic media and carefully timed.”

Mr Gibson said the strategy was to damage Francis’s legacy before he either dies or resigns, perhaps due to ill health, and to ensure a conservative successor.

“It’s the start of the campaign for the next conclave,” he added, referring to the secret election held in the Sistine Chapel to choose a new pope.