Audio By Carbonatix
Former pope Benedict XVI failed to act over four child abuse cases when he was archbishop of Munich, a German probe into the Catholic Church has found.
Pope Benedict, then called Josef Ratzinger, held the position from 1977 to 1982. He has denied the accusations.
But a new report into historical abuse allegations carried out by a German law firm incriminated the former pope.
Abuse continued under his tenure, it is alleged, and the accused remained active in church roles.
The former pope, now aged 94, became the first Church leader to resign in more than 600 years in 2013. Since then, he has led a largely quiet life in the Vatican City.
The new report, commissioned by the Catholic Church, alleges he was told about the facts of child abuse cases while acting as archbishop, but took no action.
"Two of these cases concern abuses committed during his tenure and sanctioned by the state," lawyer Martin Pusch said as he announced the report.
"In both cases, the perpetrators remained active in pastoral care."
Latest Stories
-
Tyre burst causes truck fire along Cape Coast–Takoradi road
30 seconds -
Abomosu STEM SHS wins tie-breaker to clinch final Eastern Region NSMQ qualification slot
4 minutes -
Mahama asked me to receive NPP petition because Chief of Staff, others were at memorial event – Nana Yaa Jantuah
13 minutes -
Two fire outbreaks destroy commercial and residential structures in Accra
19 minutes -
‘I’m older than him; he has no right to call me a nobody’ – Nana Yaa Jantuah hits back at Afenyo-Markin
22 minutes -
NPP demands respect but fails to show it, especially to women – Nana Yaa Jantuah
27 minutes -
Korle Bu struggling to cope with rising emergency cases – Accident & Emergency head
55 minutes -
Atta Akyea says NPP’s protest seeks to highlight threats to Ghana’s democracy
2 hours -
Health Minister seeks Catholic Church’s support to complete stalled Agenda 111 hospitals
2 hours -
Wontumi applies for bail pending appeal after imprisonment at Nsawam Prison
2 hours -
Today’s front pages: Friday, August 7, 2026
2 hours -
3 suspects including foreign national picked up by police over suspected cocaine seized in Tema
2 hours -
National Coalition Against Transnational Crime to launch August 12
3 hours -
GMTF seals landmark deal with MDS-Lancet to expand access to quality diagnostic healthcare nationwide
3 hours -
Nominees for Ga Mantse’s Maiden Sacred Crown Awards Unveiled
4 hours