The Vatican spent half a century covering up Maciel, the biggest sexual abuser in its history Secret documents published by Corriere della Sera have confirmed what was already suspected: the Holy See knew about the abuses of the founder of the Legionaries of Christ since at least the 1950s.

“For reasons known to the Holy Father, he has been suspended as superior of the order,” reported a document dated October 1, 1956, which stated that Maciel had arrived in Rome, after be suspended, to “heal”In this regard, the document specified that “the undersigned will order that he/she undergo treatment.”

The Mexican religious He abused 60 of his seminariansall minors. In addition, he used his congregation, the Legionaries of Christ, to money laundering. It took the Vatican 50 years to take action, and they were not particularly harsh. They merely invited him to retire to a life of “prayer and penance”It was not until 2010, when the priest had been dead for two years, that the Holy See described his actions as “very serious.” Now, it is confirmed that St. Peter’s knew everything.