Pope accepts abuse resignation of Chilean cardinal

CHILEAN CARDINAL REIGNATION

VATICAN - Pope Francis on Saturday accepted the resignation of Chilean cardinal Ricardo Ezzati, who agreed to step down after being accused of covering up sexual abuse by priests, the Vatican said.

Ezzati, archbishop of Santiago, is the seventh senior Chilean church official to resign over a scandal which the pope insists must be remedied.

To date, 77-year-old Ezzati, the Catholic Church's highest official in Chile, has insisted he is innocent. He has promised to cooperate with the investigation into his activities -- if the authorities first clear him. 

"It's not enough for to say, 'You're an accomplice.' It needs to be proven. And I am going forward with my head held high," Ezzati said in a declaration to Chilean media.

He presented his resignation to the pope in May 2018 along with all of Chile's 34 bishops. So far the pontiff has accepted seven of the resignations.