In a Vatican statement released on Saturday, Pope Francis announced the acceptance of the resignation of Andrzej Dziega, the 71-year-old Archbishop of Szczecin in northwest Poland, who has been accused of covering up the sexual abuse of minors.
According to the statement from the apostolic nuncio representing the Holy See, Archbishop Dziega will “take his retirement” following the acceptance of his resignation.
Allegations of negligence and cover-ups for pedophiles within the Catholic Church have been extensively reported by Polish media. The Gazeta Wyborcza website reported that the results of two internal ecclesiastic court trials had been forwarded to Rome, signaling a new phase in the ongoing pedophile cases that have shaken Poland.
Pope Francis has prioritized combating sexual assault within the Church throughout his papacy, advocating for a “zero tolerance” policy in response to numerous far-reaching scandals. While clergy and staff are mandated to report abuse, matters disclosed in confession remain confidential. However, activists advocating for victims’ rights call for enhanced accountability measures.
