The body of Christ, modelled from the Shroud of Turin. Photo: Vatican Media Pope accepts resignation of accused Honduran bishop
Pope Francis has accepted the resignation of Juan José Pineda, auxiliary bishop of Tegucigalpa, Honduras, following a Vatican investigation into accusations of financial mismanagement and sexual misconduct against seminarians.
The bishop, 57, has long been the subject of accusations of financial misdealings, as well as rumours that he offered support to a male companion using archdiocesan funds. He serves archbishop of Tegucigalpa, Cardinal Oscar Andrés Rodriguez Maradiaga, who has also been accused of financial misconduct.
The July 20 announcement of Pineda’s resignation provided no explanation, stating only that it had been accepted by Pope Francis.
Pope greets Teams of Our Lady in Fatima
“The Church condemns sin, because she must tell the truth, but at the same time she embraces the sinner who recognises himself as such”, Pope Francis told the Teams of Our Lady in a special message to the ecclesial movement on Friday.
Greeting the international gathering in Fatima, Portugal, which included a delegation from Ireland, Pope Francis urged the participants, who were meditating on the theme of the Prodigal Son, to “recognise themselves in this lost son who returns to the Father who never tires of embracing him and reaffirming him with love.
“This is how the Church behaves with sinners, offering them God’s mercy,” he said.
Shroud experts question findings that blood stains ‘painted on’
Experts have questioned the scientific validity of a study on the Shroud of Turin based on simulations and photographs that concluded that almost half the blood stains were “painted on”. Forensic anthropologist Matteo Borrini and the chemist Luigi Garlarschelli wrote about the Shroud in the Journal of Forensic Sciences based on the bloodstain patterns used to investigate crime scenes but did not have access to the original linen cloth. A scientist who has studied the Shroud of Turn since 1977 questioned the methodology of Borrini’s study saying it was not the same thing to rely on a photograph.
Papal envoy begins mission to Medjugorje
The retired Archbishop of Warsaw-Prague in Poland, has begun his mission to Medjugorje at the behest of Pope Francis. Archbishop Henryk Hoser [pictured] began his assignment last Sunday.
The mission has the aim of acquiring a deeper knowledge of the pastoral situation there and above all, of the needs of the thousands of pilgrims who travel there, and to suggest possible pastoral initiatives.
According to Vatican sources the mandate will last for an undefined period and ‘at the Holy See’s disposition’. Since 1981, the Blessed Virgin Mary is believed to have been appearing and giving messages to the world from Medjugorje.