Top Vatican canonist’s comments point to Pope Francis role in Príncipi case

Addressing the involvement of Secretariat of State officials in abuse cases, Archbishop Iannone highlighted the pope's personal role in hearing controversial appeals

Controversy deepened Saturday over a recent Vatican attempt to reinstate a former priest twice convicted of sexual abuse of minors in Argentina, after an interview with the Vatican’s top canon lawyer suggested that Pope Francis could be personally involved in the case.

As questions linger about the Vatican’s handling of the abuse case, focus will now lik…