Leader of the Catholic Faith, Pope Francis has come to the defence of the late Pope John Paul II who was accused in a recent documentary film of ignoring allegations of abuse by priests and protecting them by transferring them.
Speaking at St. Peter’s Square in Rome, Francis opined that the former pope, who was born Karol Wojtyla in Poland, is “these days the object of insulting and unfounded insinuations.”
However, he did not specify which accusations he was referring.
Recall that in March, a documentary film caused an uproar in Poland, as the movie accused Wojtyla of knowing about allegations of priests’ abuse in the 1960s and 1970s, when he was archbishop of Krakow.
According to the film, the late Wojtyla protected perpetrators by transferring them.
It was gathered that Italian and Vatican media, however, related Pope Francis’ statement to remarks made by the brother of Emanuela Orlandi, who disappeared almost 40 years ago.
Reports have it that the Papal State’s judiciary has been investigating the case since January.
Meanwhile, prosecutors want to pursue suspicions and lead that Orlandi, the daughter of a Curia employee and a Vatican citizen, was abducted or murdered.
Records have it that the teenage girl never returned home on June 22, 1983, after a music lesson in Rome’s old town, and sadly, a body was never found.
Her brother, Pietro recently spoke about the case after a meeting with the Vatican’s chief prosecutor.
Pietro said he was convinced that Pope John Paul II as well as Benedict XVI and Francis knew or know what happened at that time.
