The prosecutor's office closed the investigation due to a lack of evidence of criminal activity.

In November 2022, French police began the investigation following a complaint filed by the Archdiocese of Paris that Aupetit had sexually assaulted a woman who was considered a vulnerable individual.

During the investigation, Aupetit vehemently denied any sentimental or sexual involvement with the individual.

The woman herself corroborated Aupetit's statement during the investigation, stating that she remembered the situations clearly and did not believe any criminal offence had occurred.

Aupetit's lawyer, Me Jean Reinhart, emphasised that there was never any ambiguity or inappropriate behaviour on his client's part towards the woman.

"Mgr Aupetit approached the opening of this investigation with serenity because he was certain that it could only end with no further action being taken. He can continue to act in his pastoral mission without there being any difficulty from now on," declared Me Reinhart.

This investigation had been preceded by a media frenzy, resulting in Aupetit's resignation as Archbishop.

No valid reason for resignation

Archbishop Aupetit said he chose to step down "to preserve the diocese from the division that suspicion and loss of trust are continuing to provoke."

Pope Francis accepted the resignation at the end of November 2021.

However, just a few days later, in a candid conversation with journalists, Pope Francis admitted there was no valid reason for Aupetit's resignation.

Francis acknowledged that Aupetit had been a victim of unfounded gossip, injustice and hypocrisy.

As a result of the recent decision by the prosecutor's office to drop the charges against him, Michel Aupetit is now free from legal scrutiny.

Aupetit, who had served as the head of the Archdiocese of Paris since December 2017, has a long history of ministry including roles as a vicar, parish priest and chaplain to young people, before ascending to the position of bishop.

Sources

News in France

CathNews New Zealand

The resignation acceptance was confirmed in an official statement by the Bishops' Conference of France over the weekend.

Archbishop Ravel's resignation comes on the heels of an investigation ordered by the Vatican in 2022 into the Strasbourg diocese, which represents about 1.3 million Catholics.

Ravel had served as the archbishop since 2017 and was the subject of an investigation initiated by the Vatican in 2022.

The investigation was prompted by complaints from Catholics residing in the Alsace region.

Ravel's leadership style, characterised as authoritarian, had alienated numerous parishioners and church officials.

His decision to remove women and laypeople from various councils in his diocese and appoint traditionalist priests with contrasting views to their congregations drew significant criticism.

Furthermore, Ravel faced backlash for dismissing the finance director of the diocese and an auxiliary bishop within the space of little over a year.

Ongoing calls for resignation

Despite his resignation, Archbishop Ravel staunchly defended his six-year tenure, which had been marked by controversy.

However, calls for his resignation had been ongoing, with an online petition garnering over a thousand signatures.

Ravel's leadership style, which neglected to prioritise communication and engagement with his priests, further exacerbated tensions.

His absence during Holy Week, notably the Chrism Mass with the archdiocese priests, deepened grievances among the clergy, who felt neglected by their archbishop.

In June 2022, the Vatican initiated an investigation into Ravel's governance, focusing on numerous complaints about his authoritarian behaviour.

However, the findings of the investigation were not released to the public.

Ravel summoned to Rome

Ravel was subsequently summoned to Rome for a meeting with Cardinal Marc Ouellet, the former prefect for the Dicastery for Bishops, who requested his resignation and a letter to the French president, as mandated by the concordat.

Ravel did not initially submit the resignation letter, and Cardinal Pietro Parolin, the Pope's Secretary of State, summoned Ravel to Rome.

However, citing health reasons, the Archbishop did not attend the meeting.

But, on April 20, Ravel said he had "presented my resignation to the Holy Father," without giving further details.

"The Holy Father and the President of the Republic [Emmanuel Macron] have jointly accepted the resignation" of Luc Ravel, the Bishops' Conference of France said in a statement on Saturday.

Francis appointed Philippe Ballot, the archbishop of nearby Metz, as diocese administrator, "awaiting the appointment of the next archbishop of Strasbourg," the statement added.

Sources

Deutsche Welle

CathNews New Zealand

Luc Ravel, the Archbishop of Strasbourg, announced his resignation on April 20. However, he gave no reason for his resignation.

"Peace being the supreme good (...), I have presented my resignation to the Holy Father, for whom I pray every day", he said.

Ravel, 65, resigned from his position, despite being a decade away from the customary retirement age for diocesan bishops.

Archbishop Ravel is known for being heavy-handed and authoritarian and for his commitment to fighting against sex abuse in the Catholic Church.

His approach to leadership had increasingly isolated him from his priests and the Catholic community of Alsace.

The Catholic community of Alsace had long been calling for his resignation and an online petition for this attracted more than a thousand signatures.

As a new archbishop, Ravel did not take the time to meet his priests, angering a large segment of the clergy.

According to reports, he spent too much time in his native Paris and relied more on his secretary than his closest associates.

During Holy Week, Archbishop Ravel did not celebrate the Chrism Mass with the archdiocese priests. He thereby avoided confrontation with demonstrators who were demanding his removal. But his absence aggravated the complaints of priests who said he spent little time with his clergy.

Vatican investigated Archbishop Ravel

The Vatican investigated Archbishop Ravel's governance in June 2022.

Their focus was a number of complaints about his authoritarian approach.

Bishop Stanislas Lalanne of Pontoise and Archbishop Joël Mercier, former secretary of the Dicastery for the Clergy, conducted the investigation.

The report has never been released.

The former prefect for the Dicastery for Bishops, Cardinal Marc Ouellet, summoned Ravel to Rome for a meeting, during which he was asked to resign and send a letter to the French president, as required by the concordat.

However, the resignation letter never materialised, leading to Cardinal Pietro Parolin, the Pope's Secretary of State, summoning Ravel to Rome again.

This time, the Archbishop cited health reasons for not attending.

The Holy See is expected to transfer Archbishop Ravel to a titular diocese, as was done with Bishop Jacques Gaillot in 1995. Titular sees are usually reserved for bishops who are not diocesan ordinaries, and the move does not require the approval of the French president.

Sources

La Croix International

The Pillar

Catholic Culture

"The Holy Father has accepted the resignation from the pastoral care of the metropolitan archdiocese of Paris, France, presented by Archbishop Michel Aupetit", according to a brief statement from the Holy See Press Office.

In an unusually swift move, the pope has appointed Archbishop Georges Pontier as apostolic administrator sede vacante et ad nutum Sanctae Sedis of the archdiocese.

Archbishop Aupetit said he chose to step down "to preserve the diocese from the division that suspicion and loss of trust are continuing to provoke."

The 70-year-old Aupetit had sent a letter to the pope offering to resign after the conservative, Paris-based newsweekly Le Point stated in November that it was investigating several complex issues that the archbishop had "brutally" handled in recent months.

Le Point also claimed Aupetit had inadvertently sent an email to his former secretary that proves he had had an affair with a "consenting adult woman".

"My behaviour towards her could have been ambiguous, implying the existence of an intimate relationship and sexual relations between us, which I strongly refute. I decided not to see her again, and I informed her of this," Aupetit had earlier admitted.

Aupetit issued a statement on the archdiocesan website following the Vatican announcement, saying his heart was "deeply at peace", although he admitted he was "greatly troubled by the attacks to which (he) was subjected".

"I ask forgiveness from those I might have hurt and assure you all of my deep friendship and prayer," the archbishop said.

He said he was "happy to have served this diocese with magnificent teams" of clergy and laity.

"I thank the many people who have shown me their trust and affection over the past eight days," he continued.

His statement was posted under the title, "The Lord giveth, the Lord taketh away. Blessed be the name of the Lord!".

Aupetit's resignation ends the former physician's meteoric rise within the Catholic hierarchy.

Ordained in 1995 at the age of 44, Aupetit was appointed vicar general of the Archdiocese of Paris after only 11 years of parish responsibility.

In 2013 Pope Benedict XVI named him auxiliary bishop of Paris. He was appointed Bishop of Nanterre 2014 by Pope Francis.

In 2017 Aupetit was named Archbishop of Paris, a role he held for just under four years. However, he has been relieved of his duties five years earlier than the normal retirement age of 75.

Sources

La Croix International

La Croix International