A French cardinal accused of covering up the sexual abuse of children by priests apologised to victims during a mass Wednesday, according to the website of his diocese, reports RFI.
Cardinal Philippe Barbarin said he was "obliged to assume all the evil committed by some priests and personally apologise for the damage they have caused by sexually abusing children."
He said he apologised even though he was not in power in the diocese "when the abominable acts took place".
Barbarin, 65, said he met Wednesday with priests, deacons and members of the community in the eastern city of Lyon to discuss a case which even prompted the government to weigh in.
Barbarin has been caught up in a scandal over abuses that took place 25 years ago, long before he became archbishop of Lyon in 2002.
A priest in his diocese, Bernard Preynat, was charged in January after victims came forward with claims he had sexually abused Scouts between 1986 and 1991.
Prosecutors say Preynat has admitted the charges.